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 is presented as a strategy to foster growth amidst a challenging consumer environment. The initiative, slated for comprehensive implementation next year, builds upon prior AI rollouts that, according to Liu Bo, president of Tmall, surpassed initial expectations.

A central element of this expansion is Qwen Work, Alibaba’s enterprise AI assistant. An e-commerce specific version of this assistant has commenced testing and is designed to assist merchants operating across multiple platforms. This indicates a focus on providing tools that streamline diverse merchant activities, from product management to customer engagement.

By integrating AI directly into internal enterprise workflows, covering aspects like product launches, advertising, and customer service, Alibaba aims to enhance the operational efficiency and capabilities of its merchant base. This approach moves beyond consumer-facing AI features to address the practical, backend needs of sellers.