Alibaba to merge Qwen AI with Taobao in push for new AI-powered shopping

Every Wednesday and Friday, TechNode’s Briefing newsletter delivers a roundup of the most important news in China tech, straight to your inbox. Your support helps TechNode continue to provide credible, on-the-ground journalism and industry insights about the Chinese tech industry. Alibaba Group is preparing to roll out a major integration between its AI platform Qwen and e-commerce marketplaces Taobao and Tmall, as the Chinese tech giant pushes to transform online shopping through AI. The move is designed to replace traditional keyword-based searches with a conversational shopping experience, allowing consumers to browse products, compare prices and complete purchases by chatting directly with an AI assistant inside the Qwen app. The app will connect users to more than four billion products across Taobao and Tmall’s marketplaces. Alibaba is also equipping the platform with a dedicated skills library that can handle tasks including logistics tracking and after-sales support. The company plans to leverage users’ past orders and shopping preferences to generate personalized recommendations, deepening the role of AI in consumer purchasing decisions.

Read the full article at the source →