Latest news with #Accio
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Blue matcha craze: Why this color-changing tea is linked to eye health
A bright blue brew that turns purple with lemon is taking over social media—and some studies say its natural pigments may also help tired eyes. If you spend long hours on your phone or laptop, you've probably felt that heavy, tired feeling in your eyes. A bright cup of blue tea, also called butterfly pea tea, is now trending online as a soothing fix. It's not only eye-catching for its color-change trick with lemon, but science says its plant pigments may also play a role in eye health. Why it's suddenly everywhere Butterfly pea tea isn't just a social media hit—it's also a booming business. Grand View Research reports fast global market growth, while Accio finds 'blue matcha' searches climbing steeply online. What researchers have found The deep blue color comes from natural pigments called anthocyanins. A recent scientific review explains that these pigments can change color with acidity—that's why your tea turns purple when you squeeze in lemon. When it comes to eye health, research is still early. A clinical trial found that people who took anthocyanin supplements reported less eye strain after screen use. And a large NIH-backed study showed that other plant pigments like lutein and zeaxanthin may help protect aging eyes. Butterfly pea tea contains similar compounds, but scientists haven't yet done big human studies on the tea itself. How to make it at home You only need four steps: Boil a cup of water. Add 5–6 dried butterfly pea flowers and let them steep for 5 minutes. Strain into a glass. Squeeze lemon juice and watch the magic—it turns purple. Add honey or mint if you like. Things to keep in mind Butterfly pea belongs to the pea family. If you have legume allergies, be cautious. A review on natural food dyes says there are no known allergy cases yet, but research is limited. Food regulators take different views. In the U.S., the FDA allows the flower extract as a coloring ingredient. In the EU, EFSA has asked for more safety data before approving it widely. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or already under eye treatment, it's best to check with your doctor. Blue tea is fun to make, refreshing to drink, and packed with colorful plant compounds. It might offer some support for screen-tired eyes, but don't think of it as a cure. For real relief, experts still recommend the 20-20-20 rule : every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Malaysian Reserve
4 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Alibaba International Releases the World's First AI Agent for Global Trade
B2B Search Engine Accio surpasses 2 million users within 9 months of launch NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alibaba International today announced the next iteration in the evolution of its B2B search engine Accio, with the addition of the world's first AI Agent for global trade. 'Accio Agent' has been released following Accio's milestone of surpassing two million users. This leap marks Accio's evolution from an AI-powered sourcing tool into a fully agentic AI platform. According to Alibaba International's latest survey of product-focused entrepreneurs, 40% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from around the world are now run by solo entrepreneurs who face tight constraints on time, resources and manpower. Accio Agent tackles this challenge by compressing tasks which typically require days of cross-team collaboration into workflows completed in minutes. Redefining Global Trade Workflow Accio Agent revolutionizes international commerce by automating 70% of traditionally manual workflows, compressing fragmented processes including product ideation, prototyping, compliance checks and supplier sourcing into a seamless, AI-powered cycle. Here's how it works: Users start by inputting a product concept. The system instantly generates a tailored development plan, complete with market insights, regulatory guidelines and design specifications. With a single approval from the user, Accio Agent takes over conducting real-time supplier vetting, bulk RFQs and comparative analyses, and delivers a finalized, production-ready roadmap. One final click sends inquiries directly to pre-vetted global sellers listed on Alibaba's b2b e-marketplace enabling b2b buyers to quickly decide on the right choice of supplier for them. By slashing weeks of research and sourcing coordination into minutes, Accio Agent empowers SMEs and solo entrepreneurs to outpace traditional teams, turning fragmented workflows into a unified sprint from concept to global supply chain. When AI Meets Industry Depth Trained on 1 billion product listings and 50 million supplier profiles, Accio Agent revolutionizes global trade with AI that merges deep industry insights and strategic reasoning. Unlike general AI agents, Accio Agent leverages advanced language models to evaluate customer feedback and supplier performance, uncovering hidden strengths like specialized customization capabilities. It also emulates expert procurement logic, assessing technical needs, risks and business objectives to balance critical trade-offs such as quality versus cost or innovation versus compliance. Kuo Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International, shared: 'Accio Agent is a highly practical tool which solves a multitude of problems for businesses sourcing globally. It's an AI agent designed to help you do business. It can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, operating like a team of dedicated professionals – sourcing agents, product developers, engineers, and market researchers – all working together to grow your business.' AI in the e-commerce market is valued at USD 7.68 billion in 2025 and is expected reach USD 37.69 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5% from 2025 to 2032, according to Coherent research. Global trade hit a record $33 trillion in 2024, according to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Accio's evolution into Agent AI underscores Alibaba International's commitment to redefining global trade through innovation. By automating complex workflows and delivering actionable insights, Accio enables businesses to navigate international b2b sourcing with newfound confidence and agility. Accio Agent is now available at by switching to 'Agent Mode'. About Alibaba International Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (Alibaba International) is dedicated to supporting the development of global digital trade with AI-powered technology. It operates various platforms with distinctive business models, covering multiple countries and regions around the world.
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Alibaba International Releases the World's First AI Agent for Global Trade
B2B Search Engine Accio surpasses 2 million users within 9 months of launch NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- Alibaba International today announced the next iteration in the evolution of its B2B search engine Accio, with the addition of the world's first AI Agent for global trade. 'Accio Agent' has been released following Accio's milestone of surpassing two million users. This leap marks Accio's evolution from an AI-powered sourcing tool into a fully agentic AI platform. According to Alibaba International's latest survey of product-focused entrepreneurs, 40% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from around the world are now run by solo entrepreneurs who face tight constraints on time, resources and manpower. Accio Agent tackles this challenge by compressing tasks which typically require days of cross-team collaboration into workflows completed in minutes. Redefining Global Trade Workflow Accio Agent revolutionizes international commerce by automating 70% of traditionally manual workflows, compressing fragmented processes including product ideation, prototyping, compliance checks and supplier sourcing into a seamless, AI-powered cycle. Here's how it works: Users start by inputting a product concept. The system instantly generates a tailored development plan, complete with market insights, regulatory guidelines and design specifications. With a single approval from the user, Accio Agent takes over conducting real-time supplier vetting, bulk RFQs and comparative analyses, and delivers a finalized, production-ready roadmap. One final click sends inquiries directly to pre-vetted global sellers listed on Alibaba's b2b e-marketplace enabling b2b buyers to quickly decide on the right choice of supplier for them. By slashing weeks of research and sourcing coordination into minutes, Accio Agent empowers SMEs and solo entrepreneurs to outpace traditional teams, turning fragmented workflows into a unified sprint from concept to global supply chain. When AI Meets Industry Depth Trained on 1 billion product listings and 50 million supplier profiles, Accio Agent revolutionizes global trade with AI that merges deep industry insights and strategic reasoning. Unlike general AI agents, Accio Agent leverages advanced language models to evaluate customer feedback and supplier performance, uncovering hidden strengths like specialized customization capabilities. It also emulates expert procurement logic, assessing technical needs, risks and business objectives to balance critical trade-offs such as quality versus cost or innovation versus compliance. Kuo Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International, shared: "Accio Agent is a highly practical tool which solves a multitude of problems for businesses sourcing globally. It's an AI agent designed to help you do business. It can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, operating like a team of dedicated professionals - sourcing agents, product developers, engineers, and market researchers - all working together to grow your business." AI in the e-commerce market is valued at USD 7.68 billion in 2025 and is expected reach USD 37.69 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5% from 2025 to 2032, according to Coherent research. Global trade hit a record $33 trillion in 2024, according to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Accio's evolution into Agent AI underscores Alibaba International's commitment to redefining global trade through innovation. By automating complex workflows and delivering actionable insights, Accio enables businesses to navigate international b2b sourcing with newfound confidence and agility. Accio Agent is now available at by switching to "Agent Mode". Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (Alibaba International) is dedicated to supporting the development of global digital trade with AI-powered technology. It operates various platforms with distinctive business models, covering multiple countries and regions around the world.
Associated Press
11-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Alibaba's Accio Hits 1 Million Users, Unveiling New AI Features to Empower SMEs in Global Trade
Leveraging Reasoning models to Simplify Market Entry and Global Sourcing for SMEs HANGZHOU, China, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group ('Alibaba International') announced today that its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven business-to-business (B2B) search engine, Accio, has surpassed 1 million users within five months of launch. To further empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), two new features—Business Research and Deep Search—are now available, offering AI-driven solutions for market entry and global sourcing. Recent AI Momentum at Alibaba Accio is an AI-native application designed to simplify global trade for SMEs. Built on Alibaba's foundational technologies—including the Qwen large language model available as open-source—Accio leverages reasoning models fine-tuned with real industry data across the internet. These models power Accio's multilingual capabilities and ability to generate precise market insights and actionable sourcing strategies. 'Reaching 1 million users is just the beginning. Our goal is to consistently refine our toolkit, enabling SMEs to seamlessly integrate AI functionalities into their workflows,' said Kuo Zhang, President of a leading platform for global B2B e-commerce and a business unit of Alibaba International. 'With the enhanced Accio, anyone can now turn vague product ideas into actionable plans in minutes, not months. Everyone can get a shot at becoming an entrepreneur.' Business Research: From Insights to Execution Accio's Business Research streamlines market analysis by automating labor-intensive tasks like data collection and trend tracking. Instead of juggling scattered reports, users input broad goals—such as launching a product in a new region—and receive structured, real-time reports on consumer demand, pricing trends and competitive landscapes. The tool identifies high-potential niches, and even generates ready-to-use business plans with cost estimates and supplier recommendations. This allows SMEs to act swiftly on opportunities without months of groundwork. Deep Search: Precision Sourcing, Simplified Deep Search tackles the complexities of global sourcing by adapting to intricate requirements—whether technical specs, certifications or budget constraints. If a query yields few results, it will intelligently refine searches using synonyms or industry terms, mimicking procurement experts. The feature also vets suppliers for compliance and reliability, delivering AI-curated shortlists in minutes. By translating decades of Alibaba's trade data into an intuitive interface, it empowers newcomers to source like seasoned professionals. Revamping Global Trade with AI A recent survey of over 4,000 sourcing decision-makers across the US, UK, Germany and France revealed that nearly 64% plan to integrate AI into their sourcing strategies by 2025. Their top motivations include long-term business growth, efficiency improvements and cost reductions. With global trade projected to exceed $33 trillion in 2024[1], businesses are increasingly adopting advanced technologies to stay competitive. Tools like Accio address this need by simplifying AI adoption. is also undergoing a comprehensive upgrade to incorporate Accio's capabilities, empowering its 50 million SME buyers and sellers to identify business opportunities and connect with trustworthy suppliers. # # # About Alibaba International Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (Alibaba International) is dedicated to supporting the development of global digital trade with AI-powered technology. It operates various platforms with distinctive business models, covering multiple countries and regions around the world. Media Contact Lingnan Cui
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alibaba's Accio Hits 1 Million Users, Unveiling New AI Features to Empower SMEs in Global Trade
Leveraging Reasoning models to Simplify Market Entry and Global Sourcing for SMEs HANGZHOU, China, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group ("Alibaba International") announced today that its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven business-to-business (B2B) search engine, Accio, has surpassed 1 million users within five months of launch. To further empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), two new features—Business Research and Deep Search—are now available, offering AI-driven solutions for market entry and global sourcing. Recent AI Momentum at Alibaba Accio is an AI-native application designed to simplify global trade for SMEs. Built on Alibaba's foundational technologies—including the Qwen large language model available as open-source—Accio leverages reasoning models fine-tuned with real industry data across the internet. These models power Accio's multilingual capabilities and ability to generate precise market insights and actionable sourcing strategies. "Reaching 1 million users is just the beginning. Our goal is to consistently refine our toolkit, enabling SMEs to seamlessly integrate AI functionalities into their workflows," said Kuo Zhang, President of a leading platform for global B2B e-commerce and a business unit of Alibaba International. "With the enhanced Accio, anyone can now turn vague product ideas into actionable plans in minutes, not months. Everyone can get a shot at becoming an entrepreneur." Business Research: From Insights to Execution Accio's Business Research streamlines market analysis by automating labor-intensive tasks like data collection and trend tracking. Instead of juggling scattered reports, users input broad goals—such as launching a product in a new region—and receive structured, real-time reports on consumer demand, pricing trends and competitive landscapes. The tool identifies high-potential niches, and even generates ready-to-use business plans with cost estimates and supplier recommendations. This allows SMEs to act swiftly on opportunities without months of groundwork. Deep Search: Precision Sourcing, Simplified Deep Search tackles the complexities of global sourcing by adapting to intricate requirements—whether technical specs, certifications or budget constraints. If a query yields few results, it will intelligently refine searches using synonyms or industry terms, mimicking procurement experts. The feature also vets suppliers for compliance and reliability, delivering AI-curated shortlists in minutes. By translating decades of Alibaba's trade data into an intuitive interface, it empowers newcomers to source like seasoned professionals. Revamping Global Trade with AI A recent survey of over 4,000 sourcing decision-makers across the US, UK, Germany and France revealed that nearly 64% plan to integrate AI into their sourcing strategies by 2025. Their top motivations include long-term business growth, efficiency improvements and cost reductions. With global trade projected to exceed $33 trillion in 2024[1], businesses are increasingly adopting advanced technologies to stay competitive. Tools like Accio address this need by simplifying AI adoption. is also undergoing a comprehensive upgrade to incorporate Accio's capabilities, empowering its 50 million SME buyers and sellers to identify business opportunities and connect with trustworthy suppliers. To try the new product, please visit: or # # # About Alibaba International Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (Alibaba International) is dedicated to supporting the development of global digital trade with AI-powered technology. It operates various platforms with distinctive business models, covering multiple countries and regions around the world. Media Contact Lingnan CuiAlibaba [1] View original content: SOURCE Alibaba International;
