Summer short-term session: corporate visit

This summer vacation marked my first experience participating in a short-term program, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Ant Group, one of China’s leading internet finance companies best known for its mobile payment platform, Alipay. Our visit took place at Ant Group’s headquarters in Hangzhou.

Ant Group’s campus resembles a modern university, spacious and vibrant. Upon our arrival, the staff welcomed us and introduced the company’s various display installations and collaborative projects with national athletes. The layout of the campus felt both grand and futuristic, filled with an atmosphere of technological innovation. We then proceeded to the exhibition hall, where the staff guided us through Ant Group’s history, its beginnings, growth trajectory, and vision for the future.

What impressed me most in the exhibition hall was the demonstration of an AI-powered doctor. Through the Alipay app, users can access online medical consultations, and the AI doctor is modeled after a renowned physician from a Hangzhou hospital—helping solve the issue of patients struggling to secure appointments with high-demand specialists. Another fascinating feature was the company’s AI facial recognition technology. We were invited to take facial samples to generate AI-generated faces, which the system then successfully identified. This demonstration reassured us of the precision and potential of the technology.

Alipay, as a service developed by Ant Group, has profoundly influenced daily life in China and even shaped my own experience as an expatriate. The company provides technical support and integrations for foreign mobile payment systems, particularly across Southeast Asia. For instance, Malaysia’s Touch ’n Go eWallet—one I often use—has integrated Alipay’s technology. Whether Chinese travelers visit Malaysia or Malaysians go to China, both can make payments conveniently in their local currency.

Our visit concluded with a Q&A session in the conference area, where senior personnel shared valuable insights and practical advice. Their openness and expertise left a deep impression on me, and I sincerely hope to have the chance to intern—and perhaps one day work—at Ant Group in the future.