BEIJING — On Wednesday, Alibaba's international division unveiled an enhanced version of its AI-powered translation tool, which it claims surpasses offerings from Google, DeepL, and ChatGPT. This assertion is based on an evaluation of Alibaba International's new model, Marco MT, by the translation benchmark framework, Flores, the company stated. The fast-expanding international segment of Alibaba introduced this updated AI translation product as a successor to one launched approximately a year ago, which has reportedly attracted 500, 000 merchant users. Sellers in one region can utilize the tool to create product pages in the language of their intended market. The latest iteration relies solely on large language models, enabling it to incorporate contextual elements such as cultural nuances or industry-specific terminology, explained Kaifu Zhang, vice president of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group and head of the artificial intelligence initiative, in a CNBC interview on Tuesday. "Our objective is to ensure that this AI tool contributes to improving merchants' profitability because their success reflects on the platform's success, " he stated. Large language models are the foundation of AI applications like OpenAI's ChatGPT, which also offers translation capabilities. These models, trained on vast datasets, can generate responses to prompts that closely resemble human communication. Alibaba’s translation tool is derived from its own Qwen model and supports 15 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian. Since the initial version of its AI translation tool was launched last fall, Alibaba reported that merchants have utilized it for over 100 million product listings. Like many AI services, the basic pricing structure charges merchants based on the volume of text translated. Zhang did not disclose the pricing for the updated version but mentioned that it is available in certain service bundles for merchants seeking straightforward access to international buyers. He believes that contextual translation significantly increases the likelihood of consumer purchases.

He cited an example where a colloquial Chinese term for a slipper, if translated literally, could alienate English-speaking consumers by missing its implied meaning. "The refreshed translation engine is set to enhance the Double 11 shopping experience for consumers through more authentic expressions, " Zhang remarked, referring to the annual Alibaba-led shopping festival on November 11. Alibaba's international operations encompass platforms like AliExpress and Lazada, which mainly serve Southeast Asia. This unit reported a 32% growth in sales, reaching $4. 03 billion for the quarter ending in June compared to the previous year. In contrast, Alibaba's primary e-commerce businesses, Taobao and Tmall, experienced a 1% year-on-year decline in sales to $15. 6 billion, focusing mainly on China. The Taobao app also enjoys popularity in Singapore, and in September, it introduced an AI-driven English version for local users. Nomura analysts project a slight slowdown in Alibaba's international revenue growth to 29% year-over-year for the quarter ending in September, while operating losses have decreased, as detailed in an October 10 report. Alibaba has yet to announce the date for its quarterly earnings release.