A human lookalike teacher from China’s Alibaba Group is helping users find their way round cities.

She is part of an upgrade to Alibaba’s Amap navigation platform that uses AI-powered city mapping features.

The upgraded system creates a digital twin of the world around, including well-known landmarks rendered with 3D modelling, real-time traffic updates, and the virtual teacher for in-app guidance.

The navigation service should help users understand the routes and traffic situations immediately without requiring them to go back and check maps constantly.

The platform integrates real-time visual information, such as weather, traffic and the surrounding natural environment, into its 3D viewing mode.

Apart from driver and pedestrian perspectives, users can also opt for a bird’s eye view to see cities from above or night mode to see landmarks in the dark.

The upgrade borrowed rendering technologies from the gaming industry. The virtual icons on the map look more realistic through enhanced shading, said Sun Chong, project manager of Amap, at a product release event in Mandarin.

The immersive navigation experience extends to local hotspots, making it easier to find shops and restaurants even in labyrinthine shopping malls.

The feature is available in six Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, with more urban metropolises in the works.

A digital creation named Xiao Gao Lao Shi – or Teacher Gao – comes with the map upgrade. The human lookalike accompanies users through the 3D cities and transforms the map-reading process into a conversation. Users can ask her about the destination, weather, real-time traffic situation and where to find petrol stations and toilets on their journey. Teacher Gao will suggest the most energy-efficient routes and alert users to any incoming roadblocks, traffic jams or accidents along the way.

“We hope that Teacher Gao can create more intimacy and comfort for users’ daily travel needs, not only at a functional level but also on an emotional level,” said Chong.

Users receive greetings from Teacher Gao when the navigation starts in the application. They should expect to hear her voice for updates during traffic jams, and not be surprised if she suggests a break after long periods of driving.