Alibaba Integrates Qwen AI into Taobao and Tmall

Alibaba has integrated its Qwen artificial intelligence platform with its flagship e-commerce marketplaces Taobao and Tmall, enabling users to browse, compare, and purchase items through natural language conversations rather than traditional searches. The rollout, which includes access to more than four billion products in the combined catalogs, marks a significant expansion of agentic AI capabilities across the company's ecosystem.

Shoppers can now interact with Qwen via text or voice commands to find products, run virtual try-ons, track prices over 30 days, apply discounts, and complete transactions through Alipay, with the AI handling logistics, customer service, and after-sales support. A dedicated skills library manages these workflows end-to-end, requiring only final user confirmation for payments. Within the Taobao app itself, a Qwen-powered shopping assistant offers similar tools, alongside personalized recommendations based on order history and preferences. The integration also extends to services like food delivery via Taobao Instant Commerce, travel bookings through Fliggy, and navigation with Amap.

Alibaba Group Vice President Wu Jia described the strategy during a...