Alibaba Expands Qwen from Chatbot to AI Task Performer Ecosystem-wide

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Alibaba’s artificial intelligence assistant is now embedded across major services within the company’s ecosystem, enabling users to order food, shop online, book flights, and access a variety of other services with a single voice command or typed request.

This AI tool, integrated into primary platforms such as e-commerce sites, mobile payment systems, online travel agencies, and navigation apps, has been made available for user testing. For example, by saying “Help me order a cup of coffee,” the system can suggest nearby coffee shops, recommend products, and pre-fill details like delivery address based on the user’s location. During testing, one user received a recommendation for a coffee from a popular chain, and by clicking “Choose it,” seamlessly completed the purchase through the payment app without switching platforms.

The company’s vice president explained, “AI is progressing from mere intelligence to true agency,” emphasizing that this launch marks a move from systems that just understand commands to those that act and connect deeply with real-world services. The new app aims to make AI more practical for everyday use by offering tools that users can rely on for routine tasks, freeing up time and effort.

Additionally, a new “Task Assistant” feature has been introduced, currently available only through an invite-only beta. Built on advanced AI models and leveraging a multi-agent architecture alongside ecosystem insights, this feature can handle complex personal and professional workflows efficiently within minutes.

While the core AI model is powerful, experts note that the company does not yet have a dominant entry point for consumers. Previously, the focus was on the Tongyi app, but its user base lagged behind competitors like ByteDance’s Doubao. As a result, the company rebranded and upgraded Tongyi into the new AI-native app, shifting consumer interest there.

Since launching a dedicated consumer-focused group last December, the new app has attracted over 100 million monthly active users since its beta debut in November 2025. However, industry analysts warn that challenges remain regarding privacy and data security, especially when it comes to sensitive user interactions involving selections and payments.