China's tech giants race to put AI on delivery riders' heads

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has launched a smart helmet for food couriers with features enabled by artificial intelligence technology, following similar roll-outs by rivals Alibaba Group Holding and Meituan as they seek to improve rider safety and boost delivery efficiency. The helmet integrates an AI-driven voice assistant with a camera that can “see” the surrounding environment, JD.com’s food delivery unit announced on Monday. The company said the device was designed to minimise distractions in poor weather, when delivery riders, who often travel by electric bike, struggle to use smartphones with wet hands or limited visibility. Instead of pulling over to tap a screen in heavy rain, couriers could use voice commands to manage new orders, communicate with customers and complete other essential tasks while driving, it said in the statement. Beyond relying on online maps, the system provides turn-by-turn voice prompts based on established routes used by experienced riders, helping newer workers navigate unfamiliar areas and avoid delays. Other AI-assisted features include automatically reading customer delivery instructions – such as contactless drop-off requests – and assisting with quality assurance checks when couriers collect orders. For instance, the helmet could automatically flag potential hygiene issues at a restaurant, the company said. The device would initially be distributed free of charge to JD.com’s full-time couriers before being gradually rolled out to all food delivery personnel on the platform, according to a statement published on the company’s official WeChat account. The launch highlights a broader industry trend as domestic food delivery platforms adopt AI-powered hardware to address worker safety standards and optimise routes amid intense market competition. Rivals Alibaba and Meituan have both released similar devices. By June 2025, Beijing-based Meituan had rolled out more than 1 million smart helmets equipped with voice communication features, fall-detection sensors and an automated emergency-response function. Alibaba’s food delivery unit – originally operating as Ele.me, now rebranded as Taobao Shangou – introduced a smart helmet in late 2022 with similar voice-interaction features. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. China had more than 10 million food delivery riders by early 2025, according to an earlier report by state-run news agency Xinhua. With many personnel working under tight deadlines and in harsh weather, safety has become a growing concern for regulators.