Photo credit: Alibaba Group
This week, Alibaba Cloud’s cloud computer Wuying rolled out an AI education application to enhance students’ learning experience and support teachers.
In other news, luxury sports goods are in the spotlight on Chinese e-commerce platform Tmall, and Xianyu has unveiled a new look.
Alibaba Cloud’s Wuying Unveils AI Tutor that Enhances Learning and Teaching
The application, powered by large language model Qwen, is accessible via students’ accounts on Alibaba Cloud’s cloud computer Wuying.
Students can interact with an educational chatbot able of responding to students’ questions and guide them to solve mathematics or IT problems in a step-by-step manner.
They can also interact with a series of AI-powered virtual characters that can enhance their understanding of the Chinese cultural traditions.
“As a digital technology platform, we are committed to using digital technology to inject vitality into education, making it more sustainable and inclusive,” said Huang Guijing, Senior Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Education.
The application is being showcased at Digital Learning Week, an annual flagship event of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on digital learning and the transformation of education.
By March 2025, the AI application will be rolled out to 200 primary and secondary schools under the Cloud for Youth program.
Launched in 2021, the program has provided over 180,000 students and teachers from over 20 provinces in rural China with access to learning materials and applications through Wuying AI Cloud Classroom.
Summer of Sport Drives Luxury Consumer and Brand Activity on Tmall
Chinese luxury shoppers took to Tmall’s in increasing numbers this summer in search of the highest-quality sportswear and other sports products.
Transaction volume of luxury sports products on Tmall rose 55% year-over-year between June 1 and Aug. 27, according to data from the platform.
Luxury brands kept pace and released more than 800 sports-related items on the e-commerce site.
Italian fashion house Gucci released a tennis skirt, as well as a polo shirt with the brand’s iconic motif emblazoned in red and green on the collar.
Footwear aficionados were in for a treat as well. London-headquartered designer Jimmy Choo paired up with American golf apparel company Malbon to release a stylish and sporty golf shoe complete with spikes.
In search of a new basketball? You’re in luck. Milanese fashion house Versace also debuted a collection of luxury outdoor sports equipment, which includes dumbbells, yoga mats and more.
Xianyu Updates Homepage to Better Meet Consumer Interests
Alibaba’s online flea market Xianyu refreshed its mobile app appearance this week, part of a broader transition from second-hand goods platform to lifestyle community.
The new version places more focus on interest-based channels for users to browse, as well as more content sections and product recommendations.
Item suggestions are also more tailored to specific user demographics. “In the future, the Xianyu homepage of different users may be different for different people,” said Jian Ding, President of Xianyu, in a statement.
Xianyu, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is China’s largest consumer-to-consumer community and marketplace for second-hand goods.
In April, the platform’s number of monthly active users reached 162 million, according to Chinese data aggregator QuestMobile.
Chinese Tourists Take Road Less Traveled for Summer 2024 Holidays: Fliggy
Bookings of domestic travel tours rose by double digits year-on-year this summer on Alibaba Group’s platform Fliggy, as Chinese tourists headed out to explore their country.
While major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen maintained their allure, a set of smaller and more niche destinations also gained popularity.
Hit the road with Alizila and discover the hottest new tourism spots in China
Young Innovators Transform Global E-Commerce with AI at Alibaba Competition
Young minds from around the world gathered in southern China this week for a battle of artificial intelligence innovation as Alibaba Group’s annual Global E-Commerce Challenge (GEC) crowned its 2024 winners.
Now in its fourth year, the competition sees teams of university students and recent graduates apply AI to solve common problems faced by e-commerce merchants and consumers.
