TENCENT(HK:00700) Guo Ji Jin Rong Bao·2026-01-26 14:10Core Viewpoint - In 2026, major companies are entering a new round of competition for AI application traffic, following the mobile internet era, with a focus on aggressive strategies and comprehensive engagement [1] Company Developments - Tencent's CEO Ma Huateng reassured employees at the January 26 employee meeting, emphasizing the company's steady approach and focus on its own pace amidst AI anxieties [2] - Tencent's AI assistant "Yuanbao" has evolved from a technical experiment to a leading AI application, rapidly growing its user base and integrating its capabilities across multiple Tencent platforms [2] - Tencent has restructured its AI development framework, establishing new departments and appointing former OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu as a key figure in its AI strategy, indicating a significant acceleration in its AI initiatives [3] New AI Features - Tencent's "Yuanbao" launched a new social AI feature called "Yuanbao Party," aimed at enhancing user interaction in social scenarios, allowing seamless integration with WeChat and QQ [4] - The company is reviving its tradition of distributing cash red envelopes during the Spring Festival, announcing a distribution of 1 billion yuan in cash through the Yuanbao app, signaling its commitment to the AI sector [4][5] Industry Competition - As the Spring Festival approaches, major companies are gearing up for a new competition centered around AI, with significant investments and resources being allocated to promote their AI assistants [6][7] - Baidu announced a cash red envelope activity through its Wenxin assistant, while ByteDance secured exclusive AI cloud partnership for the Spring Festival gala, highlighting the competitive landscape [7] - The upcoming Spring Festival presents a critical opportunity for companies to establish user reliance and emotional connections with their AI assistants, which will be crucial in the emerging AI-native era [8]