"Users of the company's flagship AI assistant Qwen - one of the most popular in China - would soon be able to use natural language to "talk" with the chatbot app to find and buy items listed on Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall shopping platforms, according to one person familiar with the plan."
"The integration enables users to complete tasks through simple text or voice commands, reducing the need to navigate multiple apps and repeated clicks, and marks the latest push by the tech giant to turn its AI model into a gateway for daily services."
"Taobao would also get a Qwen-backed AI shopping assistant, the person said, adding that the move was part of Alibaba's broader initiatives to align its businesses with the group's call for AI adoption."
"Analysts said the Qwen and Taobao integration signalled a shift from keyword-based e-commerce searches to "conversational shopping", where consumers described needs in plain language while AI did the browsing."
Alibaba Group plans to overhaul online shopping for local consumers by integrating its Qwen AI assistant with Taobao and Tmall. Shoppers would be able to use natural-language text or voice commands to talk with the chatbot app and locate items on the platforms. The integration aims to let users complete shopping tasks with fewer app switches and fewer repeated clicks. The effort aligns with broader initiatives to embed Qwen more deeply across Alibaba’s ecosystem, including e-commerce, food delivery, travel booking, and movie ticket purchases. Analysts view the change as a shift from keyword-based searching toward conversational shopping, where AI handles browsing based on plain-language needs.
Read at South China Morning Post
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