Ele.me’s AI Assistant “Xiao E” Launches: Riders Report Significant Assistance

CNBC AI News – In a move to optimize its vast delivery network, Ele.me, one of China’s leading food delivery platforms, has rolled out its AI-powered assistant, “Xiao E,” to its nationwide fleet of delivery riders. The deployment promises to bring intelligent support to millions of “Blue Knights,” as the riders are known.

Having undergone a pilot program in four cities starting in April, Xiao E, the first AI tool of its kind specifically designed for delivery riders in China, is now fully operational across the entire Ele.me ecosystem.

Built upon large language model technology, this intelligent system harnesses three core capabilities: natural language processing, multimodal interaction, and real-time data analysis, offering a comprehensive, voice-activated, and always-on support experience for riders.

Early data suggests significant adoption, with 50% of riders utilizing the assistant frequently within the first two months of launch, resulting in over 20 million daily proactive service interactions. The most common inquiries revolve around real-time weather conditions, promotional incentives, and order-related issues, while the system proactively engages riders across 17 critical operational stages, including pick-up reminders, delivery confirmations, and delay warnings.

In terms of technological innovation, Xiao E functions through a dual approach of voice activation and multimodal interaction. Riders can initiate actions like accepting orders or confirming arrival with the simple “Xiao E Xiao E” voice command, greatly reducing the need for manual interaction.

Currently, Xiao E provides end-to-end assistance, from order acceptance through completion, exhibiting particularly strong performance in anomaly detection and risk mitigation. Ele.me has stated that in line with the nationwide expansion, the company will continue to iterate and enhance Xiao E’s intelligent decision-making capabilities, hinting at further advancements in its AI-driven operational strategy.