Alibaba Launches AI Agent for Small Businesses With International Ambitions

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has rolled out an artificial intelligence (AI) agent designed to make running a small or midsize business easier for entrepreneurs around the world, underscoring the Chinese e-commerce giant’s push to make AI services a core part of its business.

On Monday, the company’s international unit launched Accio Work, a plug-and-play AI agent that provides businesses with an instant, no-code digital workforce. The system can handle tasks ranging from the routine to the complex, such as real-time value-added tax filings, tax refunds and customs documentation across more than 100 markets, and can conduct multiple rounds of negotiations with suppliers to secure better terms, according to the company.