Wang Puzhong, CEO of Meituan's Core Local Commerce Business, highlighted during a discussion on the company's AI integration that the current challenge of deriving tangible benefits from AI deployment largely arises from discrepancies in four key domains: understanding, efficiency, application scenarios, and performance assessment. This makes it difficult to convert AI investments into tangible productivity enhancements. He elaborated on the four distinct phases of Meituan's AI transformation journey:
During February and March, the entire workforce engaged in what was dubbed the 'Shrimp Farming Initiative.' This resulted in a substantial surge in expenses and caused disruptions to regular business activities.
In April, each business unit set up dedicated AI teams to map out the transformation roadmap.
From June to July, a competitive framework was introduced to underscore that AI transformation is a holistic endeavor that intertwines business strategy, organizational structure, and technological innovation.
By July, AI had been successfully integrated into internal product workflows, yielding measurable value.
Also in July, Meituan unveiled CatPaw, a comprehensive AI Agent platform designed for all-encompassing scenarios. This platform has been widely adopted, reaching 90,000 employees and boasting 30,000 Agents. It facilitates seamless collaboration at both ends and ensures uninterrupted cloud-based operations. CatPaw incorporates industry-specific knowledge across the entire local life services spectrum and caters to a diverse array of business contexts.