Amap, Alibaba’s answer to Google Maps, sees over 40 million users test new ranking service

More than 40 million Amap users logged on to test its artificial intelligence-powered ranking service, as Alibaba Group Holding’s answer to Google Maps started ranking mainland destinations and providing recommendations for 1.6 million establishments.

Amap Street Stars – which uses AI algorithms to rank destinations including restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions – recorded that many users on its launch on Wednesday, as the mapping app positioned itself as a gateway for lifestyle services, according to data released by the Alibaba unit on Thursday. Alibaba owns the Post.

That initiative marked “a significant step towards Alibaba’s vision for a super-app strategy”, JPMorgan analysts said in a research note on Wednesday. “Amap is increasingly positioned as Alibaba’s primary entry point for offline local services, running parallel to Taobao as the online traffic entrance.”

The new service could also be “another hit to Meituan’s cash cow”, the note said. Amap Street Stars posed a direct challenge to Dianping, Meituan’s user review service.

Amap’s AI-powered ranking service represents Alibaba’s latest shot at on-demand delivery giant Meituan, as their competition in the instant commerce segment continues to heats up.

Many Chinese users on Thursday hailed Amap Street Stars’ combination of ranking and navigation features, which US internet giant Google’s Maps app provides in most markets outside mainland China.