Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has introduced an enhanced version of its AI-powered translation tool, Marco MT, which it claims surpasses the capabilities of popular tools like ChatGPT and Google Translate. The updated tool, designed to aid global e-commerce merchants, aims to provide more accurate, context-aware translations for international sellers on Alibaba’s platform.
The tool’s assessment by Flores, a translation benchmark framework, suggests its superiority in handling cultural and industry-specific nuances, a key feature of this update. Since its initial launch last year, Marco MT has been used by over 500,000 merchants to translate product listings into the languages of target markets, helping sellers improve their reach.
Powered by large language models, including Alibaba’s own Qwen, the tool supports 15 languages, such as English, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic. It picks up on contextual clues to offer more accurate translations than literal interpretations. Alibaba’s Vice President of International Digital Commerce Group, Kaifu Zhang, emphasized the goal of helping merchants increase sales through better translations, stating, “If the merchants are doing well, the platform will be doing well.”
Alibaba’s international platforms, such as AliExpress and Lazada, reported strong growth, with international sales rising by 32% in the quarter ending June 2024. The translation tool is expected to play a significant role in this expansion, especially in emerging markets across Europe and the Americas.
With a focus on improving the customer experience for global buyers, Marco MT is also expected to enhance events like the Double 11 shopping festival by providing more accurate, culturally sensitive product descriptions. While pricing details for the tool’s latest version have not been disclosed, it is included in some service bundles for international merchants.
Alibaba’s launch of this updated AI tool comes as part of a broader push by Chinese companies, including PDD Holdings’ Temu and fast fashion retailer Shein, to expand globally and strengthen their presence in international markets.
