Alibaba launches overseas e-commerce Agent: AI is starting to help open stores and do business.
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Author | Huang Yu
Having passed through the foundational competition of computing power and model parameters in large AI models, the global tech giants are now unstoppable as their battles extend into the realm of AI-native applications.
Currently, "Lobster" (OpenClaw), which is characterized by the ability to autonomously complete complex tasks 24/7, has sparked a worldwide frenzy and has thoroughly opened the door for the commercialization of AI Agents.
As major tech companies race to launch general-purpose office assistant Agents, the giants in the e-commerce industry are also moving quickly, targeting the core region of commercial monetization.
In the early hours today, as Alibaba’s business group focused on overseas e-commerce, Alibaba International officially launched its first enterprise-level Agent overseas: Accio Work.
The biggest feature of this Agent is that it can autonomously help people do business.
Currently, Accio Work requires no deployment; users can simply download and use it. It is now available to users globally.
According to Wallstreetcn sources, overseas users only need to give Accio Work a single command, and it can autonomously complete the entire process from market analysis, product selection and design, storefront setup, to product release.
Accio Work will also follow instructions to post for users on major platforms, place advertisements, promote stores, and autonomously help foreign users find high-quality Chinese suppliers and negotiate on their behalf, right through to final procurement.
At the same time, users can send commands and check progress via platforms like Telegram, WeChat, and Feishu.
Zhang Kuo, president of Alibaba International, recently stated that unlike early AI tools, Agent-type AI represented by Accio Work not only follows scripts but also possesses reasoning, adaptability, and execution capabilities. Enterprise-level AI Agents can now traverse the complex processes of global trade, handling all procedures from inquiry, negotiation, to cross-border payments.
People close to Alibaba International told Wallstreetcn that while Accio Work can help overseas small and medium-sized businesses run their operations, the deeper intention is to greatly stimulate the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of overseas users whose e-commerce infrastructure is weak, while further increasing demand for the procurement of Chinese goods.
At the crossroads of global trade upheaval and technological revolution, the launch of Accio Work reflects Alibaba International’s AI strategic plan to seek certain growth amid current uncertainties in global trade.
After years of price wars and chaotic managed service models, the cross-border e-commerce industry has changed dramatically. Simple "low-price exports" are no longer sustainable; merchants must transition to "branding" and "high value-added" models.
Recognizing this, Alibaba International has increased its AI deployment since 2023 to empower platform merchants.
According to Wallstreetcn, Alibaba International's AI currently focuses on the application layer, forming two core directions under Alibaba Group’s overall AI strategy: First, exploring AI-native applications to further expand the boundaries of business and technological innovation; second, using AI to transform and upgrade the entire chain of existing cross-border e-commerce operations—for example, by launching the "AI Business Assistant" that covers product release, customer reception, marketing, and compliance.
In terms of AI-native applications, in 2024 Alibaba International launched its first AI-native application Accio overseas, starting from the B2B e-commerce search portal. Reportedly, Accio's enterprise users have exceeded 10 million. Now, Accio has further upgraded to launch Accio Work.
In this AI-driven paradigm shift, the competitive landscape of the global e-commerce market is being rapidly rewritten. Whoever can first provide the smartest "digital brain" for the business world will hold the most important asset in the future global trade game.
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