Alibaba Boosts B2B Trade Through AI Mode and Digital Tokens
- Alibaba adds AI Mode to give buyers deeper supplier insight and sourcing clarity.
- The platform explores digital token payments to move international funds at pace.
- Accio search tools reveal hidden suppliers and lift manufacturing access for buyers.
Alibaba’s cross-border e-commerce arm launched a new AI subscription service on Friday as the company pursued faster global payments using tokenized money. The new strategy came as Alibaba.com looked to boost revenue and improve trade efficiency across its international marketplace. Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com, told CNBC that the division planned deeper use of artificial intelligence and stablecoin-like tools to speed complex transactions across multiple regions and currencies.
AI Mode Expands Alibaba’s Global Trade Tools
Alibaba.com introduced a new service called AI Mode, which offered advanced search tools for businesses on the platform. The feature allowed users to compare suppliers using metrics such as pricing, logistics capabilities, and production options. Zhang told CNBC that global buyers were shifting quickly toward AI-driven search and expected faster insights when sourcing goods internationally.
The division generated more than $3 billion in revenue during Alibaba’s last fiscal year. It served global buyers seeking suppliers and products from multiple regions. Zhang said the new AI subscription could create an additional revenue stream, with pricing considered at $20 per month or $99 per year.
Alibaba has invested heavily in AI through its Qwen model family. These models now support multiple business units, including Alibaba.com. The platform also runs on Accio, a search and multimodal analysis engine that helps businesses identify unlisted or niche suppliers. Accio evaluates manufacturing capabilities and product specifications, allowing buyers to match with suppliers that traditional search tools may overlook.
Additionally, the system automates several processes. These operations include supplier discovery, logistics coordination, and regulatory checks. The platform’s global supplier base increased by 50% between March and October compared with the same period last year. Zhang told CNBC that Alibaba wanted to include more high-quality suppliers worldwide to support global supply chains.
New Contract Automation and a Push Toward Tokenized Payments
Alibaba.com has scheduled the launch of a tool named Agentic Pay for December. This functionality would permit AI to issue legally binding contracts in accordance with the buyer-supplier correspondence that occurred on the site. The objective was to work with manual uploads of contracts drafted offline, which was the traditional method.
A typical cross-border payment may entail the use of different currencies and take a long time to be settled. Payments can take a couple of days and pass through multiple intermediaries. Zhang informed CNBC that the firm is planning to speed up the process via “tokenization,” which is the transformation of a more digitalized form of cash on banking systems.
Related: China Tech Giants Push for Yuan Stablecoins in Hong Kong
Tokenized deposits differ from stablecoins. Deposits are backed by fiat on a bank’s balance sheet, while stablecoins come from non-bank issuers and may rely on assets such as bonds or cash. Zhang said Alibaba.com was exploring tokenized euros and U.S. dollars to support faster settlement.
The company planned to work with banking partners such as JPMorgan, which already operates tokenization systems. CNBC reported that JPMorgan introduced its own token, JPMD, to speed cross-border fund movement.
