Alibaba launches AI design tool for U.S. sellers
U.S. retailers selling goods on the Alibaba e-commerce platform have a new solution designed to streamline photography and design with AI.
Alibaba International has released Pic Copilot, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven e-commerce design tool tailored for small and medium-sized retailers. Pic Copilot features 12 one-click AI design tools aimed at making tasks such as swapping image backgrounds, editing images and videos, conducting virtual try-ons, and generating ads as easy as possible.
Leveraging real-life e-commerce data from Alibaba, Pic Copilot is developed to improve product imagery and videos. According to Alibaba, initial tests have shown a double-digit average increase in click-through rates.
The latest iteration of the model is built on 250 million parameters and utilizes a unique data annotation method centered around sales metrics. By analyzing how various background elements in images influence click-through rates across 240 product categories, the AI model has been trained on visual appeal as well as enhancing sales performance.
Other Pic Copilot features available in the U.S. include a virtual try-on tailored for multiple skin tones and body types, featuring more than 160 models across four major skin tones.
The solution also allows users to upload personal images for virtual try-on and has introduced U.S.-specific graphic theme templates tailored to national holidays and celebrations such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick's Day.
According to Alibaba, during a Black Friday trial period, more than 35,000 users worldwide leveraged Pic Copilot to create marketing materials. Black Friday-related content generated by Alibaba sellers with Pic Copilot was subsequently utilized more than 200,000 times, providing average savings of more than $200 per user.
In addition, the virtual try-on feature assisted more than 10,000 sellers in generating more than 80,000 original model images.
Alibaba expands AI efforts
In November 2023, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group introduced its "Aidge" generative AI toolkit, with features including a virtual try-on tool for apparel and a 24/7 AI customer service capability.
[READ MORE: Alibaba to sell AI technology aimed at small- to mid-sized businesses]
The retailer also recently introduced the beta of Accio, an AI-based business-to-business search engine for small and medium-sized buyers and sellers on its platform worldwide.
To help buyers gain access to a greater pool of global suppliers, Accio is intended to index all business-to-business sellers around the world and expand Alibaba's existing global seller ecosystem.
Since April 2023, Alibaba International says it has assembled an AI business team of 100 experts and continues to hire new members. A number of other major global retailers have also launched their own AI platforms intended for use by the wider retail and supply chain industries.
