- Users can search, compare and buy products through natural-language conversations
- Integration brings Alibaba closer to turning Qwen into a consumer “super app”
Alibaba Group said on May 11 that it has fully integrated its Qwen assistant with Taobao, allowing users to browse, compare and purchase products through AI conversations in what the company described as a major step toward AI-powered commerce.
The move marks one of the world’s first deep integrations between a large-scale e-commerce marketplace and a top-tier large language model platform.
Alibaba said users can now complete the entire shopping process — from product discovery to checkout, delivery tracking and after-sales service — through AI-driven interactions.
Inside the Qwen app, users can access more than 400 million product listings from Taobao and Tmall by describing what they want and setting a budget ceiling.
The AI tool then searches products, compares specifications and prices, recommends items and generates a checkout page directly within the conversation flow.
On the Taobao app, Alibaba has also rolled out a “Qwen AI Shopping Assistant” under the messaging tab. The assistant includes AI-powered virtual try-ons, price tracking alerts and automated discount calculations.
The integration shifts shopping away from the traditional process of manually opening apps, entering keywords and filtering products. Instead, users can theoretically complete purchases through natural-language prompts alone.
Alibaba said the AI system will also handle logistics coordination, returns, exchanges and after-sales requests, giving Qwen a role closer to an autonomous shopping agent capable of executing tasks across multiple systems.
The latest expansion builds on Qwen’s earlier integrations with Alibaba ecosystem services including Alipay, Amap, Fliggy and Taobao Instant Commerce.
Some Chinese consumers welcomed the move, as it reflects broader demand for “all-in-one” digital services that combine shopping, food delivery, ride-hailing and payments inside a single platform.
Others raised concerns about AI misunderstanding user intent, as well as data privacy and security risks tied to deeper AI integration into daily consumption habits.
