Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has announced the integration of agent-based artificial intelligence (AI) into the user journey of its business-to-business (B2B) marketplace. The technological innovation is introduced under the ‘AI mode’ function. It aims to transform the processes by which professionals discover, evaluate and interact with suppliers.
Agent-based AI is even more impressive than generative AI. It is able to reason, plan and act autonomously, thus expanding the possibilities of automation. Their integration marks a significant step forward in Alibaba’s strategy. The company wants to position agent-based AI as the central driver of the trading experience.
The launch comes amid remarkable growth for the B2B marketplace. The volume of European orders increased by 57 percent year-on-year. The number of active sellers increased by 50 percent worldwide during the same period.
The ‘AI Mode’ is scheduled to launch in December and responds to strong demand from the industry. According to a statement sent by Alibaba, more than 90 percent of B2B buyers are already using AI tools for their procurement and evaluation processes.
Specifically, the ‘AI Mode’ function is designed to interpret requests in natural language. It can analyze complex technical specifications and automatically compare suppliers. The comparison is made based on precise criteria such as prices, logistical aspects, certifications and production capacities. The tool delivers personalized recommendations within seconds. The aim is to enable a fully automated and consistently integrated trading experience. It relies on the platform’s existing services.
Alibaba President Kuo Zhang emphasized the strategic dimension of this development and stated: “AI is no longer an additional tool at Alibaba.com – it is becoming the operating system of our platform.”
The new functionality also makes it possible to highlight what Alibaba.com calls the “invisible product offering.” This corresponds to an expanded network of specialized, tailor-made or regionally based suppliers. These are often small and medium-sized companies whose expertise is hardly visible using classic, keyword-based search methods. For fashion industry professionals, this means easier access to potential partners. These can meet specific requirements for collections, materials or special production capacities.
The company presents this integration as a way to adapt to increasingly demanding environmental regulations. It is also intended to address the need for supply chain diversification and increasing competition by offering faster procurement solutions. The company specifies: “The AI Mode feature is designed to respond to this environment – helping buyers ensure compliance, identify sustainable partners, and bring personalized products to market faster.”
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