Alibaba's Qwen Opens Agent Platform to Third Parties, Luckin Coffee and KFC Among First Users

Alibaba's Qwen app is opening its platform to third-party agents and skills, allowing companies to run their own branded agents. Early testers include Luckin Coffee, KFC, Mixue Bingcheng, and China Eastern Airlines, with services rolling out gradually.

Companies can customize their agent's persona and service scope, offering products through conversations. These agents have memory and planning abilities, and can proactively trigger services like travel reminders, membership renewal alerts, or repurchase suggestions.

For instance, China Eastern's agent can recommend travel plans based on user preferences, while Luckin Coffee's agent can remind users to order earlier to avoid lunchtime queues. This move lowers the barrier for businesses to build smart services and pushes AI into real-world commercial use.