Alibaba Group significantly upgraded its Qwen AI application, deeply embedding the chatbot across its service ecosystem. The update integrates Qwen with platforms like Taobao and Fliggy. Users can now perform real-world tasks, such as ordering food or booking travel, by issuing direct commands to the AI.
VP Wu Jia stated the technology now actively performs tasks, moving beyond simple understanding. This upgrade marks a crucial step in Alibaba’s strategy to bolster its consumer AI presence. The company currently trails competitors, including ByteDance and Tencent, in this sector.
The announcement follows a period of high investor optimism regarding Alibaba’s AI initiatives. This sentiment contributed to a significant stock price rally in early January. Investor confidence was boosted by reports that the open-source Qwen models surpassed 700 million downloads.