CNBC·2026-01-21 09:40Core Insights - China's technology giants, including Alibaba and ByteDance, are entering a new phase of the AI race termed 'agentic commerce,' focusing on transforming chatbots into comprehensive shopping and payment tools [1] Group 1: Alibaba's Qwen AI Chatbot Update - Alibaba has updated its Qwen AI chatbot, enabling users to complete transactions directly within the interface, such as ordering food and booking air tickets [2] - The update integrates Qwen with Alibaba's broader e-commerce ecosystem, allowing users to compare tailored product recommendations from platforms like Taobao and Fliggy, and complete payments through Alipay without leaving the chatbot [2][3] - Previously, Qwen could only make recommendations based on user prompts, requiring users to navigate multiple platforms for purchases [3] Group 2: Shift to Agentic AI - The update signifies a broader shift among global AI firms from foundational AI models to "agentic AI," which performs tasks on behalf of users with minimal supervision [3] - The transformation of commercial services through agentic AI enhances user engagement and builds a sustainable competitive advantage, often referred to as a business moat [4] Group 3: E-commerce as a Use Case - E-commerce is emerging as one of the earliest and most widespread applications of agentic AI, with payment and tech giants in the U.S. also launching their initial versions recently [5] - Alibaba is well-positioned to lead in agentic commerce due to its advanced large language model capabilities and extensive e-commerce network covering various sectors such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation [6]