As the Chinese New Year approaches, a vibrant tradition known as 'Hongbao'—or red envelope gifting—captures the attention of both consumers and corporations alike. Big tech companies in China, including Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu, have launched massive marketing campaigns all linked to AI technologies. This year, they are collectively investing over 10 billion yuan to distribute digital Hongbao, aiming to enhance user interaction with AI applications.

At the forefront of this marketing spree is one real estate agent in Beijing, Shao Dong, who exemplifies the growing integration of AI in daily transactions. He shares how, despite having never used AI apps before, he's now using them to handle unexpected inquiries from customers when showing properties. The burgeoning competition among these tech firms to engage users through these platforms during the festive period illustrates how deeply embedded this tradition is—and how marketing strategies are evolving.

This year's campaign has sparked significant consumer interest, especially following promotions from Alibaba offering discounts in interaction through their AI app, which quickly led to long queues outside local milk tea shops across China. This not only highlights the effectiveness of integrating traditional practices with modern technologies but also sets the stage for future innovations in marketing strategies tailored for the ever-competitive tech landscape in China.