{
  "id": 15153272,
  "title": "Reporter’s notebook: Kimi’s AI credit card turns spending into computing quotas – with limits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/reporters-notebook-kimis-ai-credit-card-turns-spending-into-computing-15153272",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-17T08:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Tech",
    "slug": "scmp-tech",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3371226/reporters-notebook-kimis-ai-credit-card-turns-spending-computing-quotas-limits"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's artificial intelligence sector has been fostering innovative ways to market its technology, including a new AI-powered credit card developed by Moonshot AI. In collaboration with Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and American Express, the pair has created the world's first \"AI-native\" credit card, offering users a unique financial experience linked to AI services.\n\nThe card comes in two versions. The premium platinum tier provides cardholders with two months of Kimi's second-tier Allegretto membership, priced at 199 yuan ($30) monthly, after they spend at least 5,888 yuan ($830) within a month. The standard version offers eligible new ABC customers three months of the entry-level Andante membership, priced at 49 yuan ($7.3) monthly, after making three purchases of at least 18 yuan each.\n\nI attempted to obtain the higher-tier card but was denied by an ABC branch in Beijing due to my annual income falling short of the requirement. I eventually received the standard card online within a week. The Kimi co-branded card, launched in July, comes amid a surge of AI-themed bank cards introduced by Chinese lenders since June.\n\nThis card merges everyday spending with access to AI services such as agent usage quotas, coding tools, and premium subscriptions. The Andante membership associated with my card provides additional benefits, including document processing, website deployment, and coding capabilities. For frequent AI users, the rewards are more attractive than traditional shopping vouchers or airport lounge access offered by standard credit cards. However, the benefits come with limitations, such as restricted usage quotas and a short duration of the associated AI membership.\n\nDespite the potential for such products to attract high-net-worth customers and bolster China's credit card market, which has decreased from 807 million in the third quarter of 2022 to 677 million by June 2023, the AI-focused financial services are still in their early stages. The partnership between Moonshot, ABC, and Amex is expected to explore further AI-driven services, including AI-based payments and credit quota-linked tokens. Yet, the success of these products in generating long-term growth for banks' credit card business will depend on their ability to integrate AI into their operations, enhance credit approvals and risk management, and sustain investment in the AI computing ecosystem.",
  "summary": "China’s artificial intelligence companies have spent years persuading consumers to pay for their technology. Now, Moonshot AI, the start-up behind Kimi, is taking a different approach: offering AI computing benefits through a credit card. The company has teamed up with the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and American Express for what it calls “the world’s first AI native credit card”. After…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Reporter’s notebook: Kimi’s AI credit card turns spending into computing quotas – with limits",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/reporters-notebook-kimis-ai-credit-card-turns-spending-into-computing",
        "published": "2026-10-17T08:00:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}