Alibaba hopes for AI tools for overseas sellers – Zhang

Alibaba’s international e-commerce division uses generic AI-powered tools to help cross-border sellers with tasks such as translation, content creation and product returns, said group vice president Kaifu Zhang.

At a conference in Singapore, Zhang highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) for Alibaba’s international digital trade amid rising tensions between China and the US, noting that China is comparable to the United States in terms of the pace of AI innovation.

Tech powerhouse Alibaba is recalibrating its strategies to boost the competitiveness of its global platforms, such as AliExpress and Lazada, after revamping its international e-commerce division. Despite losing some early advantages, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group under Zhang’s leadership has achieved significant milestones with 300 million annual consumers and a network of more than 1 million sellers worldwide.

The unit has become a key growth engine for Alibaba, as evidenced by its solid financial results, with profits up 44% from October to December compared to the previous year. In the face of intensifying competition, Alibaba remains optimistic about the transformative potential of AI technology to empower businesses in the global e-commerce landscape.