DingTalk is expanding its focus from software to a more comprehensive AI agent strategy, introducing a specialized operating system along with hardware terminals.
Alibaba Group Holding’s workplace collaboration application, DingTalk, has introduced a specialized operating system and advanced enterprise hardware as it accelerates its efforts in AI agents within a growing competition among China’s leading technology companies.
During an event held in Hangzhou on Tuesday, the Alibaba group introduced Agent OS, an operating system tailored exclusively for AI agents, along with DingTalk Real, a hardware collection that functions as a physical device for executing these agents. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.
“Going ahead, all AI agents within DingTalk will be developed and operated through Agent OS, enabling AI to interface directly with the real world,” said Chen Hang, founder and CEO of DingTalk, during the event.
Are you curious about the major issues and global trends? Find the solutions withSCMP Knowledge, our latest platform offering carefully selected content including explainers, FAQs, analyses, and infographics, presented by our acclaimed team.
AI entities – such as those created by the Chinese startup Butterfly Effect’sManus AI– refer to software applications that can independently plan and carry out tasks for users or systems, decomposing complex objectives into particular actions by utilizing available resources.
The action highlights DingTalk’s goal to transition from a simple software platform into a comprehensive supplier of AI agent solutions, integrating both hardware and software for business clients.
The move comes as Alibaba intensifies its competition against local competitors such as Tencent Holdings and ByteDance, which are also increasing their focus on AI agents.
Major Chinese technology companies have intensified their attention on this area after the international move of Manus AI, a well-known AI agent initiative launched by Chinese entrepreneurs, as global political tensions increase.
Chen referred to DingTalk Real as the “core of AI,” aimed at allowing agents to function “safely and dependably” in intricate business settings.
He highlighted the company’s commitment to safety, pointing out that the hardware enables users to stop operations by manually disconnecting power if an AI agent acts unexpectedly.
DingTalk also launched a dedicated “homework grading machine” designed for educational purposes, able to evaluate as many as 100 assignments within four minutes. Focused on primary and secondary schools, the device is now available for pre-order, with an initial deployment planned for 1,000 schools.
On the software front, DingTalk introduced a collection of AI assistants for the workplace that handle tasks like hiring, travel expense submissions, and marketing design.
For example, the AI Travel Agent could create travel plans, compare costs, and submit expense report requests automatically for users, as stated by Chen.
In 2015, Chen established DingTalk and departed from Alibaba six years later to start his own business. He came back this year as the chief executive, as Alibaba intensified its AI approach throughout its wider network.
More Articles from SCMP
This piece was first published in the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a top news outlet covering China and Asia.
Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
jasdooit 
Leave a comment