Alibaba Launches AI-Powered Search Engine for Small Businesses
Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, has recently introduced a groundbreaking artificial intelligence-powered search engine called Accio. This innovative tool is designed to help small businesses in Europe and the Americas source supplies more efficiently and effectively.
Accio leverages advanced technology similar to ChatGPT to enhance sales for businesses. Initial tests have shown a 40% increase in purchase intent among users compared to traditional search engines. Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com and vice president of Alibaba International, shared these promising results.
Named after the spell used in the popular Harry Potter series for summoning objects, Accio is a web-based platform that supports multiple languages, including English, German, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. With just a few text or image inputs, businesses can utilize Accio to discover wholesale products, along with insights on consumer popularity and projected profits.
During demonstrations viewed by CNBC, Accio was showcased assisting a sports entrepreneur in developing a line of pickleball products. The tool not only provides product recommendations but also lists procurement options for businesses to directly engage with suppliers.
The technology behind Accio is powered by Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen large language model, a generative AI model trained on vast amounts of data. By incorporating data from 50 million businesses on Alibaba International’s platform and publicly available industry information, Accio offers access to over 1 billion product listings across more than 100 markets.
Alibaba’s international business segment has been rapidly expanding, with a significant focus on enhancing AI capabilities. The company recently updated its AI translation tool to assist merchants in reaching customers globally, surpassing the capabilities of competitors like Google, DeepL, and ChatGPT.
While Alibaba continues to dominate the domestic e-commerce market with platforms like Taobao and Tmall, its international presence is growing steadily. The company’s commitment to leveraging AI technology to improve productivity and enhance customer experiences is evident in its latest initiatives.
As more businesses adopt generative AI tools for customer service and content creation, the potential impact on productivity is significant. Alibaba’s ongoing efforts to innovate and enhance its AI capabilities will be closely monitored as the company prepares to report quarterly results.
In conclusion, Alibaba’s launch of Accio represents a significant step towards empowering small businesses with advanced AI tools for sourcing supplies and driving sales. With a strong focus on leveraging technology to enhance the user experience, Alibaba continues to lead the way in the e-commerce industry. Stay tuned for more updates on Alibaba’s latest innovations and developments.
