Shen Yang, head of Alibaba.com's Asia-Pacific region, speaks at a press conference for the launch of the AI business team 'Accio Work' at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on May 28, 2026. [Photo: Alibaba.com]
A new era of hiring artificial intelligence (AI) team members has begun. Alibaba.com has launched its AI business team 'Accio Work' in the South Korean market. The initiative aims to significantly lower the barriers for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter global markets by having AI manage the entire trade process, from sourcing to negotiation and marketing.
On May 28, Alibaba.com held a press conference at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul to announce the launch of Accio Work. The AI agent will handle all aspects of business-to-business (B2B) trade, including market research, product planning, sourcing, price negotiation, product registration, global marketing, and store operations. According to the company, this 24/7 operational system allows staff to focus on high-value decision-making tasks such as supplier negotiations and risk management, rather than repetitive duties.
South Korea has been identified as a strategic market for Alibaba.com. Since the introduction of the trade assurance service in July 2025, the number of new export companies in the country has increased by 18% compared to the previous year, and inquiries from global buyers to Korean sellers have surged by 128%. Shen Yang, head of Alibaba.com's Asia-Pacific region, stated, "Our goal is not just to increase the number of exporting companies but to enhance the business capabilities of Korean firms."
During the press conference, questions arose regarding AI malfunctions and accountability. James Zhang, head of global seller products and services at Alibaba.com, explained, "We developed the AI based on 27 years of trade data, addressing issues of AI hallucinations." He added, "We designed a system where human approval is required before the agent takes any action, and all execution and decision-making processes are recorded for users to review and halt at any time."
In response to concerns that AI could standardize seller capabilities, Yang emphasized that creative tasks such as sales and brand strategy still require irreplaceable human skills. He noted, "What becomes important in the AI era is the ability to identify good products." Regarding security issues, he assured that the company strictly adheres to local laws in all countries, including South Korea, to ensure user information safety.
The subscription fee for Accio Work ranges from free to $19.99, $99, and $199 per month. Higher-tier plans offer more 'credits' that allow users to flexibly purchase detailed business support services tailored to their needs. A customized pricing plan for the South Korean market is also planned for the future.
Alongside the launch, the AI startup competition 'Co-Create Pitch 2026' was announced for South Korea. With a total prize pool of 200 million won, the competition is divided into three tracks: general SMEs, early-stage startups, and students, with applications accepted until July 25. The winning team from the finals on August 25 will represent Korea at a global summit in the United States.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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