Di Yi Cai Jing·2026-02-06 10:36Core Viewpoint - The competition for user engagement during the Spring Festival has intensified, particularly on WeChat, as major companies like Tencent and Alibaba engage in aggressive marketing strategies, including substantial cash giveaways and promotional activities [1][3]. Group 1: Marketing Strategies - Tencent's "Yuanbao," Alibaba's "Qianwen," and Baidu's "Wenxin" have launched significant promotional campaigns, with Qianwen achieving over 10 million orders during a promotional event [1][3]. - The competition has led to a "carnival" of AI applications dominating the App Store rankings, with Qianwen reaching the top position, followed by Tencent's Yuanbao and Doubao [3][10]. - Companies are investing billions in subsidies and red envelopes to attract users, marking the Spring Festival as a critical period for AI application marketing [3][10]. Group 2: WeChat's Role - WeChat has implemented a "no-mercy" approach by blocking promotional links from competing applications, including its own Yuanbao, which has raised questions about its dual role as both a platform and a competitor [1][4]. - The platform's actions are seen as an effort to maintain user experience and combat excessive marketing tactics that could lead to user annoyance [4][5]. - The blocking of links has created confusion and operational challenges for companies like Qianwen, which faced system overloads and user complaints during peak traffic [6][7]. Group 3: Operational Challenges - Qianwen experienced significant system failures due to high traffic, leading to multiple user complaints about service disruptions and payment issues [6][7]. - The company is urgently working to enhance its system capacity and ensure smooth operations amidst the overwhelming demand for its promotional offerings [8]. - The challenge of coordinating internal resources and managing merchant relationships has become critical for Qianwen as it navigates this competitive landscape [8]. Group 4: Future Considerations - The ongoing competition raises questions about the sustainability of user acquisition strategies based solely on financial incentives, as companies may need to rely more on product quality and user experience to retain customers [15][16]. - The lack of a robust social ecosystem for Qianwen poses a challenge, as it must find ways to expand its user base beyond WeChat's constraints [16]. - Analysts suggest that while marketing can attract users, the long-term success of AI applications will depend on their technological capabilities and user satisfaction [15][16].