Major Chinese technology companies are racing to launch services based on the open model context protocol (MCP), which enables Manus-like artificial intelligence (AI) agents to connect with third-party online tools, data sources and systems – a trend that could expand the commercial adoption of such applications.
Alipay operator Ant Group – the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the South China Morning Post – last week unveiled its “MCP server for payment services”. This lets AI agents seamlessly connect with Alipay’s payment platform.
That, in turn, enables Alipay users to “easily make payments, check payment statuses and initiate refunds using simple natural language commands”, according to the Ant Group statement.
With MCP, various applications can provide relevant information to large language models (LLMs) – the technology underpinning generative AI services such as ChatGPT – while ensuring that these models function effectively within a defined scope, the company said.
It added that MCP standardises how AI models interact with various data sources and tools, like a “USB-C port for AI applications”.
The adoption of MCP by some of China’s biggest tech firms shows how AI agents are turning into a new avenue for domestic innovation and vast commercial opportunities, compared with chatbots and LLMs.
