E-Commerce Giant Embraces AI Revolution

Jiaoge Pengyou (HKEX: 01917) marked its sixth anniversary with ambitious AI plans, revealing how technology is reshaping its operations. The company's 2025 financial results showed steady growth, with gross merchandise value climbing 6.23% year-over-year to reach 16.02 billion yuan ($2.2B). This strong performance provides fuel for its transformation into what executives call a "tech-powered retail platform."

From Manual Listings to AI Automation

The company has established Mandask, a dedicated AI subsidiary that's overhauling core systems like the Pengyou Cloud platform. Already, artificial intelligence handles the tedious work of processing 5 million product listings—entering specifications, categorizing items, and preparing them for review. Human staff now focus on higher-value tasks like quality assurance and rights verification.

"What used to take days now happens in hours," explains a company insider familiar with the transition. "The supply chain moves faster when machines handle the repetitive work."

Smart Marketing Meets Digital Influencers

Jiaoge Pengyou's AI strategy extends beyond backend operations into three key marketing areas:

• Demand prediction using consumer behavior analysis
• Automated content creation for product promotions
• Precision audience targeting for ad campaigns

The company has even introduced digital celebrity avatars into its advertising system—virtual influencers that reduce costs while maintaining engagement levels.

Yet CEO Cui Dongsheng cautions against expecting complete automation: "AI excels at customer service bots or visual recognition, but human hosts still connect emotionally during live sales. That personal touch converts browsers into buyers."

The New Era of Tech-Driven Retail

As China's livestream e-commerce sector matures, Jiaoge Pengyou represents a broader industry shift from chasing viral moments to building sustainable tech infrastructure. Their AI investments suggest online retail is becoming less about flashy promotions and more about digital efficiency—using algorithms to streamline everything from inventory management to personalized recommendations.

The transformation raises intriguing questions: How much automation is too much? Can virtual influencers truly replace human charisma? For now at least, Jiaoge Pengyou seems committed to keeping humans in the loop where it matters most.

Key Points:

• Achieved $2.2B annual GMV with 6% growth in 2025
• New Mandask subsidiary automating millions of product listings
• Digital avatars reducing influencer marketing costs by ~40%
• Human hosts remain essential for high-value customer interactions