Alibaba is integrating the AI Qwen platform with Taobao to turn online shopping experiences into smart conversations instead of traditional searches.
This move allows users to shop by chatting directly with AI assistants instead of entering keywords and searching for products themselves as before.
Users can ask AI to suggest products, compare prices, advise on selection and complete orders right in the Qwen application.
Alibaba said its AI application will be connected to the entire portfolio of more than 4 billion products on Taobao and Tmall. The system is also integrated with a "skills library" to handle many tasks such as logistics, customer care and after-sales service.
In addition, AI assistants can also give shopping suggestions based on the history of orders and consumer preferences of each user.
On Taobao, Alibaba will also deploy new features such as AI virtual testing and tracking product price fluctuations for 30 days.
Analysts believe that Alibaba's move reflects the trend that Chinese e-commerce platforms are integrating AI deeper into the actual trading process.
Instead of just supporting search or advertising, AI is increasingly becoming a shopping assistant that can accompany users throughout the selection and purchase process.
This model is considered significantly different from the Western market. In the US, Amazon has applied AI to improve the shopping experience but is still cautious about fully integrating AI into transactions.
Meanwhile, Shopify (Canadian e-commerce platform) mainly allows third-party AI agents to operate on its platform.
Alibaba's push for AI is seen as a step to consolidate its position in the increasingly fierce competition of the e-commerce and AI technology industry in China.
