In the wave of AI innovation, Tencent has shown a relatively cautious attitude, but with the rise of DeepSeek, it has become one of the most proactive tech giants. Tencent not only launched the DeepSeek model in the cloud but also became the first major player to integrate it into its core consumer products.

WeChat Integrates DeepSeek

Five days after Tencent's AI assistant "Yuanbao" announced its integration with DeepSeek-R1, on February 15, WeChat's "Search" feature officially began gray testing with DeepSeek-R1. This choice highlights WeChat's strategy to enhance its AI search capabilities and ensure its competitiveness in an evolving market. By leveraging the widely validated DeepSeek-R1 model, WeChat aims to strengthen its AI search functionality, attract users, and solidify its position in the AI search domain. Given WeChat's over 1.3 billion monthly active users, this integration is particularly significant.

Competitive Landscape

The integration of DeepSeek into WeChat is not just about functional enhancement; it also reflects a shift in Tencent's AI strategy. Unlike its previous cautious approach, Tencent is now placing greater emphasis on application rather than self-developed models. This move comes as multiple cloud service providers and enterprises begin integrating DeepSeek, but none can rival the influence of WeChat. Industry experts believe that AI search is viewed as a promising area for killer applications, and competition will intensify, especially against traditional search engines like Google and Baidu. With WeChat entering the competition, the search market is poised for a new shake-up.

Strategic Significance

Tencent's decision to integrate DeepSeek-R1 is a pragmatic response to market demands and a strategic move to enhance user experience. The AI search feature will continue to evolve, potentially incorporating voice, image, and other multimodal capabilities, making it more than just a search tool. Additionally, WeChat's vast database of user interactions and services positions it as a potential "super AI agent," capable of efficiently connecting various services within its ecosystem.

Financial Impact

Since the launch of DeepSeek, market dynamics have changed, prompting a reassessment of Chinese tech assets. Tencent's embrace of DeepSeek not only fills a technical gap but also reshapes its capital narrative. As the focus of AI competition shifts towards data and scenario integration, Tencent's advantages in user base and application diversity are likely to lead to significant increases in market valuation. Although Tencent has been cautious about developing its own large models, it is now showing a willingness to integrate third-party solutions to enhance user experience. This pragmatic strategy could drive user growth, transform its AI applications, and create new revenue streams.

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（Source: uSMART HK）