Chinese tech giants led by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) are ushering in a new phase of the artificial intelligence race, as chatbots evolve from simple recommendation tools into “agentic” systems capable of completing real-world transactions on users’ behalf.



<h2>Alibaba Expands Qwen With End-to-End Transactions</h2>



Alibaba recently updated its Qwen AI chatbot to allow users to complete entire transactions, such as booking air tickets or ordering food, directly within the chat interface.



By connecting Qwen to its broader ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, and Alipay, Alibaba enables users to receive tailored product recommendations and finish payments without switching between different apps, CNBC reported on Wednesday.



While chatbots previously only offered recommendations that required users to navigate other platforms manually, “agentic AI” now performs tasks on behalf of the user with limited supervision.



Shaochen Wang, a research analyst at Counterpoint Research, noted that this transformation “enables the maximal integration of user services [and] enhances user stickiness,” helping companies build a sustainable competitive advantage to protect profits.



<h2>Industry-Wide Push Across Super Apps</h2>



The push toward agentic AI is not limited to Alibaba. TikTok owner ByteDance has also upgraded its Doubao chatbot to handle tasks such as bookings in December, while Tencent has indicated that AI agents will become a core layer within WeChat.



Analysts say firms like Alibaba, Tencent Holding Ltd. (OTC:TCEHY), and ByteDance will compete by embedding AI deeply into their super app ecosystems, using intelligent agents to consolidate commerce, payments, and daily services into a single interface.



<h2>Baidu Reaches Major User Milestone</h2>



Baidu is pursuing a similar strategy and has already reached a major adoption milestone. Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) stock jumped on Tuesday after the company reported that its Ernie AI assistant surpassed 200 million monthly active users.



The company has integrated Ernie across its core search app and PC platforms, allowing users to directly access services from partners such as JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ:JD), Meituan (OTC:MPNGY), and Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM) for flight bookings and food delivery.



Baidu is also linking Ernie with Baidu Maps and Baidu Health as part of a broader effort to build a tightly connected AI-driven ecosystem.



BABA Price Action: Alibaba shares were up 5.06% at $177.20 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.



Photo by Ascannio via Shutterstock

KBAB

BABX

09888

BABA

BIDU

BABO

Chinese tech giants, led by Alibaba, are advancing in AI with chatbots that can perform real-world transactions. Alibaba's Qwen AI now allows users to book flights and order food directly within the chat interface, enhancing user experience by integrating services like Taobao and Alipay. Other companies like ByteDance and Baidu are also developing similar capabilities. Baidu's Ernie AI has surpassed 200 million monthly active users, integrating services for bookings and deliveries. Alibaba shares rose 5.06% to $177.20 in premarket trading.

- Chinese tech giants, led by Alibaba, are advancing the artificial intelligence race with chatbots evolving into "agentic" systems that can complete transactions for users.  
- Alibaba's updated Qwen AI enables users to execute entire transactions, seamlessly integrated across its platforms, enhancing user engagement and competitive advantage.  
- Other companies like ByteDance and Tencent are also embedding AI into their super apps, while Baidu's Ernie AI has surpassed 200 million monthly active users, showcasing a significant industry shift towards integrated AI solutions.

Alibaba's AI Now Orders Your Food, Books Your Flights