Alibaba to embed AI throughout Taobao, Tmall merchant operations in 2027: executive

Alibaba’s decision to embed AI broadly across Taobao and Tmall merchant operations in 2027 reflects an effort to leverage technology for growth amidst a challenging consumer environment. The planned integration, spearheaded by the Qwen Work enterprise AI assistant, targets internal workflows for merchants selling across multiple platforms.

The move builds on previous AI deployments on Taobao and Tmall, which, according to Tmall president Liu Bo, have already shown positive results in areas like product launches, advertising, and customer service. This expansion suggests Alibaba is moving beyond initial AI applications to deeper integration within its e-commerce ecosystem.

The emphasis on Qwen Work, an enterprise AI assistant, indicates a focus on productivity tools for merchants. By providing AI-driven support for core operational tasks, Alibaba appears to be aiming to streamline processes and potentially enhance efficiency for sellers on its platforms, rather than solely focusing on consumer-facing AI features.