Alibaba's international commerce division has launched a new large language model named Marco MT, designed to enhance translation capabilities for cross-border e-commerce.

This innovative tool aims to improve translation quality, particularly for less represented languages, and will support 15 languages initially, including Chinese, English, and Spanish.

This updated translation engine is expected to enhance the consumer experience during Alibaba's annual shopping festival, known as Double 11, on November 11.

The pricing model for Marco MT remains undisclosed but is expected to be included in service bundles for merchants, making it accessible for small and medium-sized businesses.

Marco MT utilizes Alibaba's proprietary Qwen model, which allows it to interpret contextual clues, cultural nuances, and industry-specific terminology, significantly improving translation accuracy.

The model can translate various content types, including product titles, descriptions, image captions, and customer service dialogues, enabling merchants to create tailored product pages.

Kaifu Zhang, VP of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, emphasized that enhancing merchant success through improved translations will benefit the platform as a whole.

In addition to Marco MT, Alibaba has recently introduced an AI-powered sourcing tool to simplify processes for American buyers, further expanding its AI capabilities.

Marco MT will be integrated into various Alibaba platforms, including AliExpress and Lazada, enhancing operations for cross-border e-commerce.

The success of Marco MT could redefine global commerce and communication, making it a valuable tool for merchants looking to improve customer engagement and profitability.

Zhang anticipates strong demand for Marco MT, particularly from regions like Europe, the Americas, and emerging markets, where language barriers often hinder sales.

The launch of Marco MT addresses existing limitations in translation tools, aiming to eliminate language barriers and facilitate smoother transactions in global commerce.