Thursday, January 15, 2026

Alibaba Transforms Qwen: From Chatbot to Versatile AI Task Performer Across Its Ecosystem

On January 15, Alibaba Group launched its AI assistant, Qwen, integrating it across its ecosystem, which includes Taobao, Alipay, and Fliggy. Users can now execute tasks—like ordering food and booking flights—via simple voice commands or text prompts. For instance, a user can order a coffee by saying, “Help me order a cup of coffee,” with Qwen suggesting products based on location. This feature reinforces the convenience of seamless transactions, as users are directly linked to Alipay for payments. Wu Jia, Alibaba’s VP, highlighted the evolution of AI from mere intelligence to actionable systems. Qwen also introduces a ‘Task Assistant’ to manage complex workflows quickly. Despite reaching over 100 million active users since its beta launch, analysts warn that Qwen might face privacy and data security challenges, particularly in sensitive transactions. The rebranding from Tongyi to Qwen aims to strengthen Alibaba’s stance in the AI landscape.

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