CNBC January 21, 2026
Key Points
– Chinese tech firms are turning AI chatbots into full-service shopping and payment tools.
– Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance are racing to build AI-powered super apps.
– U.S. firms lead in AI models, but integration is slower due to privacy and data limits.
China’s technology giants are entering a new phase of the artificial intelligence race called ‘agentic commerce,’ as firms such as Alibaba and ByteDance race to turn chatbots into full-service shopping and payment tools.
Alibaba last week updated its Qwen AI chatbot, allowing users to complete transactions directly within the interface, including ordering food and booking air tickets.
The upgrade connects Qwen to Alibaba’s broader e-commerce ecosystem, allowing users to compare tailored product recommendations from platforms...
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