Alibaba's Amap Deploys AI to Challenge Meituan with Street Stars Restaurant Ratings
The Amap mapping application from Alibaba Group Holding has launched a new feature called Street Stars, which utilizes AI to provide local recommendations by analyzing extensive user data, including foot traffic and verified customer reviews. This feature is prominently displayed on Amap's homepage. One notable success story is Zhang Xuan, whose beef noodle restaurant in Shanghai achieved the fourth-best ranking in the Changning district, leading to a sales increase of 50 to 60 percent over recent months. This recommendation tool is part of a broader overhaul of Amap, often referred to as China's Google Maps, enhancing its offerings for nearly 1 billion monthly users with new features like 3D indoor maps and precise dining suggestions, intensifying competition with Meituan.
Key facts
- Alibaba Group Holding's Amap mapping app launched a feature called Street Stars
- Street Stars uses AI to rate venues from user data including foot traffic, movement patterns and verified customer feedback
- Zhang Xuan's beef noodle restaurant in Shanghai saw orders rise 50 to 60 per cent above normal
- The restaurant was ranked fourth best in Shanghai's Changning district
- Street Stars is displayed prominently on Amap's main page
- Amap is described as China's answer to Google Maps
- Amap has nearly 1 billion monthly users
- New features include 3D maps of indoor spaces and hyper-specific restaurant recommendations
Entities
Artists
- Zhang Xuan
Institutions
- Alibaba Group Holding
- Amap
- Meituan
- Google Maps
- South China Morning Post
Locations
- Shanghai
- China
- Changning district