Alibaba Group plans to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into the operations of merchants on its major domestic online marketplaces, Taobao and Tmall, starting next year, according to a senior company executive. This initiative reflects the e-commerce giant’s strategy to leverage AI technologies to stimulate growth amid a challenging consumer market.
Liu Bo, president of Tmall, outlined the company’s vision at a media briefing ahead of Alibaba’s annual Singles’ Day shopping event, which is scheduled to begin next Tuesday. He stated that AI will be incorporated throughout the internal workflows of merchants, enhancing various aspects of their business activities.
A key component of this expansion is Qwen Work, Alibaba’s enterprise AI assistant. The platform-specific version of this tool began testing recently and is intended to support merchants operating across multiple online platforms. This development follows the rollout of AI features on Taobao and Tmall over the past year, which Liu described as having “exceeded expectations.” Currently, merchants employ AI tools on the platforms for product launches, targeted advertising, and customer service.
The Singles’ Day festival, which Alibaba initiated in 2009, will serve as a testing ground for the company’s latest AI-driven solutions. This year’s event is expected to feature participation from a record one million global brands. Alibaba aims to use AI to foster stronger connections between consumers and the vast array of products available.
Liu noted that younger, more active users on Taobao and Tmall currently purchase from an average of 15 product categories annually. By deploying AI technologies, the company hopes to increase this range to between 25 and 30 categories, effectively broadening consumer engagement and spending patterns.
Alibaba has accelerated its AI deployment across both consumer experiences and merchant services in response to rising competition from rivals such as JD.com and PDD Holdings. For consumers, a Qwen-powered shopping assistant introduced in May offers functionalities like product comparison, virtual clothing try-ons, and assistance in finding promotional discounts.
“AI allows us to open up a larger vision,” Liu said, highlighting its capability to better align the extensive supply of goods with diverse consumer demands in ways beyond the reach of traditional algorithms. This approach is central to Alibaba’s ongoing efforts to enhance its platforms’ efficiency and appeal in an increasingly competitive e-commerce landscape.