US And Chinese Tech Giants Race To Build The Ultimate AI Shopping App: US and Chinese tech companies are quickly expanding e-commerce features inside their top AI products as they compete to build the ultimate everything app. OpenAI took a big step in that direction on Monday by introducing a new “shopping research” tool for ChatGPT. The feature arrives just in time for the holiday rush and is similar to the AI shopping assistants already popular on Chinese platforms like Alibaba’s Tmall and Taobao.
The Ultimate AI Shopping App – ChatGPT Adds Smarter Shopping Tools
With the new tool, users can simply type what they are looking for, such as “Best TVs for a bright room”. The AI then scans the web for options and has a back-and-forth conversation with the user to narrow down the choices, all inside the chat window.
OpenAI is also tying this into its growing e-commerce system. Back in September, the company launched “instant checkout”, which allows ChatGPT users to buy items directly from supported sellers. OpenAI said on Monday that shopping research will be connected to instant checkout later on.
China’s AI Apps Double Down on E-Commerce
In China, all-in-one super apps have been common for years, and major players like Alibaba and ByteDance are pushing even further. Last month, ByteDance revealed that its Doubao AI app is now integrated with its Douyin e-commerce marketplace. Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok and one of the country’s biggest platforms.
ByteDance currently operates China’s most-used AI app, Doubao, with 172 million users, as well as Douyin, which has over 1 billion users, according to QuestMobile.
Alibaba Expands Qwen Across Its Ecosystem
Alibaba is also gearing up to blend more shopping tools into its AI products. The company plans to bring e-commerce features to its new consumer app Qwen, which has already been downloaded more than 10 million times since launching last week.
The company is shifting toward an AI-first strategy and plans to use the advanced reasoning abilities of its Qwen models across its entire retail network, including Taobao and Tmall, which together serve over 1 billion users. Alibaba has also introduced an “AI Mode” on Alibaba.com to help global business buyers find products more efficiently.
Although ChatGPT is banned in mainland China, Alibaba said it will release an international version of the Qwen app aimed at overseas users.
Growing Ecosystems and the Future of AI Commerce
Much like ChatGPT, which is adding third-party apps such as Booking.com and Spotify for its 800 million users, Alibaba plans to bring more services into Qwen over time. These will include features from its existing platforms, such as maps, food delivery, and travel bookings.
Analysts at McKinsey & Co predict that by 2030, global consumer retail could reach US$5 trillion as “agentic commerce” becomes mainstream. In this future, AI agents will be able to shop for users and complete purchases automatically.
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