More than 40 million people logged on to Amap to try out its new artificial intelligence-powered ranking service. Alibaba Group’s mapping app, seen as China’s answer to Google Maps, is now ranking mainland destinations and giving recommendations for 1.6 million restaurants, hotels, and tourist spots.
Amap Street Stars: Ranking Destinations with AI
The new feature, called Amap Street Stars, uses AI algorithms to rank popular places, from restaurants and hotels to tourist attractions. The launch on Wednesday drew a massive number of users, showing that Amap is aiming to become more than just a mapping app – it wants to be a central hub for lifestyle services.
JPMorgan analysts called this move “a significant step towards Alibaba’s vision for a super-app strategy.” They added, “Amap is increasingly positioned as Alibaba’s primary entry point for offline local services, running parallel to Taobao as the online traffic entrance.”
The service also takes aim at Meituan, China’s on-demand delivery giant. The analysts noted that Amap Street Stars could be “another hit to Meituan’s cash cow,” directly competing with Dianping, Meituan’s popular user review platform.
Users Welcome a One-Stop App
Many users praised the combination of ranking and navigation features, similar to what Google Maps offers in other markets.
“I am happy to see there’s finally an app on its way to becoming the Google Maps in China,” said Shi Pei, who lives in Shanghai. She said the service makes it easier to find the most popular restaurants and get there quickly.
“There were good rating services and good mapping services before, but it was just inconvenient for a person to switch between different apps,” she added.
David Zheng, another Shanghai resident and long-time Dianping user, tried Amap on Thursday to find a highly ranked beef noodle shop.
“The meal was good,” he said. “I will now consider using the Amap rankings when travelling to other Chinese cities.”
Amap’s Biggest Strength: Its User Base
Li Chengdong, founder of Beijing-based consultancy Dolphin Think Tank, noted that Amap’s most valuable asset is its large, loyal user base that has grown over the years. This gives Alibaba an advantage as it expands Amap’s services into lifestyle and local recommendations.
With AI-powered rankings, millions of recommendations, and a growing audience, Amap Street Stars could become a key player in China’s mapping and lifestyle service market, giving users a more convenient, all-in-one experience.
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