Summary of the Core Content
This article discusses recent issues with WeChat’s user experience, such as frequent crashes and an unappealing design, and raises concerns about WeChat’s complete embrace of AI. The author believes that AI features (like automated suggestions for posts on the Moments section) are eroding WeChat’s core values—real, authentic relationships and a human touch. The author calls on WeChat to return to Zhang Xiaolong’s philosophy of “restraint and kindness” and to focus on creating products that meet users’ basic needs, rather than pursuing short-term, artificial content prosperity driven by AI.
1. What’s Wrong with WeChat Lately? Crashes and Unattractive Design
WeChat’s performance has plummeted in recent times, with users complaining that the app has gone from being excellent to completely disappointing. The iPhone and Mac versions experience frequent crashes, and the black borders used for converting text to speech during conversations are so unsightly that they are almost unbearable. These issues are not isolated; many friends in the author’s circle have encountered them. The author jokingly suggests that “hasty development using AI” might be the cause of the quality decline, which directly reflects users’ dissatisfaction with the app’s current state. WeChat, once a symbol of reliability, now lacks even basic stability, and its design no longer meets aesthetic standards.
2. Is AI Polluting WeChat’s Core Ecosystem?
WeChat’s AI features are beginning to permeate its core functions. The newly launched AI-generated post suggestions for Moments have been criticized for being insincere and lacking genuine emotion. More concerning is the potential impact in the future: if WeChat’s AI assistant, WorkBuddy, becomes widely integrated into private and group chats, a flood of AI-generated messages could overwhelm the communication experience, hollowing out the traditional concept of genuine social interactions between friends. The author emphasizes that this time is different, as AI is affecting fundamental aspects of WeChat’s functionality, impacting everyone who uses the app.
3. Where Has Zhang Xiaolong’s Principle of Restraint Gone?
The author recalls Zhang Xiaolong’s statement from “The Product Philosophy Behind WeChat”: “It’s always right to reject 99% of new ideas.” However, WeChat is now unreserved in its adoption of AI features, such as automated post suggestions and AI-powered comments. In contrast to WeChat’s earlier approach with video accounts and small stores, where users had control over whether to follow them (by clicking the “red dot”), the author warns that WeChat is deviating from its original philosophy and becoming overly eager for quick success.
4. Should WeChat Be Like Uniqlo or Shein? Quality Over Short-Term Popularity
The author uses Uniqlo as a example of a “quality product” (basic, durable items with a long lifespan, valued at $136 billion) and Shein as a “fast-fashion brand” (fashionable but disposable, valued at $26 billion). WeChat was originally designed to meet users’ basic needs of chatting and staying in touch with friends, offering long-term value. By adding too many AI-driven features, WeChat is following the path of Shein, focusing on rapid iteration rather than its core purpose. Users need a stable, authentic social platform, not just flashy AI tools.
5. The Seduction of AI vs. The Essence of Good Product Design
The author cites the Confucian saying “Flattery and artificiality rarely lead to true kindness” to highlight the contrast between AI’s ability to generate large amounts of content quickly and the lack of genuine emotion in such content. WeChat, once a symbol of Tencent’s commitment to using technology for good, may lose its human touch by relying too heavily on AI. The author argues that good products should prioritize authenticity and user needs over the superficiality of AI-driven functionality.
Conclusion
The main concern of the article is that while AI makes product development easier, it also leads to a lack of patience and respect for users’ real needs. If WeChat loses its human touch and restraint, it may no longer be the essential platform that users have come to rely on. The author hopes that WeChat will return to its roots and focus on creating products that truly meet users’ long-term needs, just like a reliable, durable item like Uniqlo.