{
  "id": 14965098,
  "title": "Alibaba to embed AI throughout Taobao, Tmall merchant operations in 2027: executive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/alibaba-to-embed-ai-throughout-taobao-tmall-merchant-operations-in",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-16T13:37:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Tech",
    "slug": "scmp-tech",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3371203/alibaba-embed-ai-throughout-taobao-tmall-merchant-operations-2027-executive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alibaba Group Holding, the e-commerce giant, plans to incorporate artificial intelligence throughout merchant operations on its domestic marketplaces, Taobao and Tmall, in 2027, according to Liu Bo, president of Tmall. The company announced this at its Singles' Day media briefing on Thursday. Liu highlighted that Alibaba's recent AI implementation on the platforms has exceeded expectations, with merchants already utilizing platform-level AI tools for product launches, advertising, and customer service. This announcement comes ahead of Alibaba's annual Singles' Day shopping festival, scheduled to begin next Tuesday and expected to attract a record 1 million global brands. The company views 2027 as a testing ground for AI-driven growth. Alibaba has been aggressively deploying AI-powered tools for both consumers and merchants as it faces intense competition from rivals like JD.com and PDD Holdings. For consumers, a Qwen-powered shopping assistant, launched in May, will assist users in comparing products, virtually trying on clothes, and selecting promotional discounts. Liu also mentioned that the company aims to expand the average number of product categories purchased by young, active Taobao and Tmall users from 15 annually to between 25 and 30 by leveraging AI to connect shoppers with a wider range of products. Additionally, Alibaba is introducing \"AI tokens\" as a new product category on its platforms, partnering with major Chinese AI model developers like Z.ai and MiniMax to sell computing power directly to end users. These tokens will be offered in customized bundles tailored for different user groups, such as students, researchers, and small teams. Tmall is also collaborating with hardware giants like Intel and Advanced Micro Devices to sell personal computers featuring Qwen models pre-installed. Alibaba's first major deployment of generative AI across Taobao and Tmall occurred during the 2025 Singles' Day festival, when large language models were integrated into the company's core search and recommendation engines. This move aligns with Alibaba's broader strategy to leverage AI for growth amidst competition.",
  "summary": "Alibaba Group Holding’s two major domestic online marketplaces, Taobao and Tmall, plan to greatly expand the use of artificial intelligence across merchants’ operations next year, a senior executive said, as the e-commerce giant doubles down on the technology to drive growth amid a challenging consumer landscape. “Starting next year, AI will comprehensively enter the internal enterprise workflows…",
  "key_points": [
    "Alibaba plans to embed AI throughout Taobao and Tmall merchant operations by 2027.",
    "Liu Bo, Tmall president, announced this at Singles Day media briefing.",
    "AI-powered tools already aid merchants in product launches, advertising, and customer service."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}