Overview
- Alibaba International, which launched Accio Work on Monday, says the no-code service deploys preconfigured AI teams that can run complex business operations for small and mid-sized firms.
- The agent teams handle tasks such as real-time VAT filings and tax refunds, customs paperwork in more than 100 markets, RFQs and multiround supplier negotiations, and marketing and logistics through apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
- Alibaba says the system runs in sandboxes with granular permissions, and any action touching payments or private files requires explicit user approval, with an option to keep data off servers to support privacy and compliance.
- Core features are free with a token allowance and usage beyond that is billed per token with no monthly fee, and the company says broad access will open at Accio.com by the end of March.
- The rollout follows Alibaba’s creation of a separate AI unit called Token Hub led by Eddie Wu and comes days after its Wukong agent platform, as Reuters highlights a strategic shift to B2B assistants and AI Business notes rising competition from Anthropic, Tencent and Zhipu AI.