Tencent Backer Prosus Develops AI Chatbot for Its Companies

Dutch e-commerce investor Prosus NV has developed an artificial intelligence chatbot for its portfolio of companies, as tech businesses increasingly turn to the emerging technology to streamline operations.

The tool, called PlusOne, uses OpenAI Inc. software and open source data to work as a “personal assistant” for staff at more than 25 of its investments, from a Polish online tutoring company to a Brazilian food developer, the firm’s head of AI Euro Beinat said in an interview.

With the move, Prosus and its South African parent Naspers Ltd. are joining the global AI race, as both startups and some ...