In a bold move to further its international expansion, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has unveiled an advanced version of its AI-powered translation tool, Marco MT. The company claims this new iteration surpasses the capabilities of prominent players like Google, DeepL, and ChatGPT, signifying a major leap in AI translation technology.
Alibaba’s international arm emphasizes the potential of Marco MT to significantly impact merchants operating on its platform. Kaifu Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, highlighted the tool’s role in boosting merchant profitability, leading to increased platform growth. Supporting 15 languages, Marco MT aims to streamline international business by enabling merchants to create engaging product pages tailored to their target markets.
The core of Marco MT lies in Alibaba’s proprietary AI model, Qwen, which has been further enhanced with large language model capabilities. This allows the tool to interpret contextual nuances and industry-specific terms, providing more accurate and culturally sensitive translations.
This ambitious move reflects Alibaba’s commitment to AI and its strategic focus on international expansion. The company has been experiencing a slowdown in its China-focused businesses, making the international market a crucial avenue for growth. Notably, Alibaba’s international division, encompassing platforms like AliExpress and Lazada, witnessed a substantial 32% year-on-year sales growth in the quarter ending June, highlighting the significance of this sector.
Alibaba’s recent initiatives underscore its dedication to leveraging AI for global dominance. Earlier this year, they introduced an AI-powered sourcing tool to simplify the sourcing process for American buyers, despite the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China. Furthermore, the AI-driven English version of their Taobao app in Singapore quickly gained immense popularity, demonstrating the potential of AI in expanding their reach across diverse markets.
Beyond its own products, Alibaba is also actively contributing to the open-source AI community by releasing over 100 AI models under the name Qwen 2.5. These models cover a broad range of industries, from automobiles to gaming and scientific research, further solidifying Alibaba’s position as a leader in AI innovation.
The introduction of Marco MT marks a significant step in Alibaba’s international ambitions and the ongoing battle for AI supremacy. It remains to be seen how this tool will compete with established players like Google and DeepL, but its potential to revolutionize cross-language communication is undeniable.