China’s top tech companies are racing to build “agentic commerce” tools, turning AI chatbots into full-service shopping and payment assistants. Alibaba and ByteDance are among the leaders.
Alibaba recently upgraded its Qwen AI chatbot. Users can now order food, book flights, and complete other transactions without leaving the chat interface. The system links to Alibaba’s broader e-commerce ecosystem, including Taobao and Fliggy, with payments handled through Alipay.
Before the update, Qwen could recommend products based on user prompts, but buyers still had to switch between platforms to make purchases.
What Is Agentic AI?
Agentic AI performs tasks on behalf of users with minimal supervision. It goes beyond simple recommendations, acting as a hands-on assistant.
Shaochen Wang, a Counterpoint Research analyst, says integrating agentic AI into services strengthens long-term user engagement, creating a competitive advantage that rivals can’t easily copy.
E-commerce is one of the earliest areas seeing agentic AI adoption. Companies in the U.S. and China are exploring similar approaches, while other applications could include autonomous driving and cybersecurity.
Alibaba’s Lead in China
Alibaba is well-positioned for agentic commerce. Its advanced AI models and vast e-commerce network give it an edge. The company can offer services covering clothing, food, travel, and more.
Rivals like Tencent’s WeChat also aim to expand AI agents in their super apps, which already combine messaging, payments, and shopping. ByteDance has upgraded its Doubao AI chatbot to handle tasks such as ticket bookings on Douyin, China’s TikTok. Some features were scaled back due to privacy concerns.
Competition and Global Landscape
Experts say AI agents will be key to the evolution of super apps. Success depends on deep integration across payments, logistics, and social engagement. Chinese firms benefit from unified ecosystems, behavioral data, and user familiarity with super apps.
U.S. companies like OpenAI, Amazon, and Perplexity are also pursuing agentic commerce. Google is exploring ways to act as a “matchmaker” between merchants, consumers, and AI agents. However, fragmented data and stricter privacy rules slow cross-service integration in the West.
Market Potential
Around half of consumers already use AI in online searches. McKinsey projects that AI agents could create over $1 trillion in value for U.S. businesses by 2030 by simplifying everyday shopping and decision-making processes.
