Chinese Tech Giants Expand AI Services with Open-Standard Protocol
Major Chinese technology companies are racing to launch services based on the open model context protocol (MCP), enabling AI agents to connect with third-party online tools, data sources, and systems. This trend could expand the commercial adoption of such applications.
Alipay operator Ant Group, the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, recently unveiled its ‘MCP server for payment services’. This innovation allows AI agents to seamlessly connect with Alipay’s payment platform, enabling users to ‘easily make payments, check payment statuses, and initiate refunds using simple natural language commands’, according to the company.
The MCP standardizes how AI models interact with various data sources and tools, likened to a ‘USB-C port for AI applications’. The adoption of MCP by major Chinese tech firms demonstrates how AI agents are becoming a new avenue for domestic innovation and vast commercial opportunities, beyond chatbots and large language models.
The protocol allows various applications to provide relevant information to large language models (LLMs) while ensuring these models function effectively within a defined scope. This development is transforming the AI landscape in China, creating new possibilities for AI integration in various industries.
