Internet companies are finding it hard to resist the appeal of the artificial intelligence boom. But for some, AI sits at the opposite end of their product logic, requiring restraint to avoid disrupting the foundations of their business.
Xiaohongshu, which operates internationally as RedNote, falls into this category. The platform combines search with community features and is centered on the sharing of real-life experiences. For a product built around human warmth, presence, and community, AI can appear to be in tension with the atmosphere Xiaohongshu seeks to create online.
But Xiaohongshu has not shied away from turning AI into products. Instead, it has sought to balance the two forces, continuing to invest in AI model capabilities while carefully controlling the technology’s role in its community ecosystem.
In 2026, as the agentic AI narrative gained momentum, Xiaohongshu began to show more urgency.
On April 30, Xiaohongshu sent an internal letter to all employees announcing the establishment of Dots, a first-level AI department. The department is intended to build a technology system spanning four divisions: model R&D, infrastructure, engineering, and product. It will also integrate top AI talent and resources. Dots reports to Xiaohongshu’s newly appointed president, Ding Ling, also known by the alias Conan.
