HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba
International Digital Commerce Group ("Alibaba International")
today concluded its Global E-commerce Challenge (GEC) 2024 with a
global finals event in Hangzhou,
China, spotlighting exceptional young innovators
worldwide.
Launched in 2021, the GEC aims to attract and engage young
talents globally to shape the future of e-commerce. The 2024
edition of the competition, focused on exploring ways to elevate
online shopping with artificial intelligence (AI), was open for
applications to university students and recent university
graduates. Participants were tasked to develop creative solutions
to address the current inadequacies of online shopping in areas
such as personalization, visual and voice searches, and
cross-border e-commerce. As they advanced through the competition,
they received guidance and support from experts at Alibaba
International and gained insights into the company's AI initiatives
as well as real-world e-commerce operations.
Since its kick-off in June, this year's competition has drawn
overwhelming responses from over 1,000 individuals in more than 500
teams, representing regions including Europe, the Americas, East Asia and Southeast Asia. After two rounds of rigorous
selection, 11 teams consisting of a total of 39 participants
advanced to the global finals held in Hangzhou today to compete for the top three
spots. The finalists presented their AI-based proposals to a panel
of industry experts, consisting of Kaifu
Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International, who leads
the company's AI initiatives; Lillian
Jiang, Chief People Officer of Alibaba International;
Carlos Barrera, Chief Executive
Officer of Lazada Philippines; Ying
Peng, General Manager of AliExpress; and Jin Qin, Investment Director at Alibaba
International.
Three teams were selected as the final winners following
comprehensive evaluation based on criteria including AI-Driven
Innovation (25%), AI Integration Capability (20%), Technical
Execution (20%), Consumer Experience (25%), and Presentation
Quality (10%). Team CrashCourse, comprising students from
Singapore Management University,
secured the first place for their innovative approach and
outstanding teamwork and brought home an award of travel vouchers
valued at US$10,000. Team The Echelon
Group, consisting of students from Johns
Hopkins University and University of
Maryland, College Park, and Team Saturdays, consisting of
students from Bandung Institute of Technology, respectively won the
second and third places and were awarded travel vouchers worth
US$5,000 and US$3,000, respectively. Additionally, Alibaba
International will offer internship opportunities to all
participants who reached the global finals.
"The GEC 2024 has truly showcased the remarkable potential of
our young talents today. Their innovative AI solutions have the
power to transform the future of e-commerce, and we are thrilled to
witness their energy and technical prowess here in Hangzhou," said Kaifu
Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International.
"We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to present our
ideas to esteemed industry experts through the GEC 2024. This
unique experience not only pushed our boundaries but also provided
us with invaluable insights into digital commerce. Winning the
challenge has been a humbling honor, and we are excited to apply
what we have learned during the competition to drive innovation in
the e-commerce industry," said Zane Chee from Team
CrashCourse.
The GEC 2024 global finals ended on a high note in an award
ceremony, with representatives of Alibaba International welcoming
the winners as interns with the company.
Sheryl Ho, Project Manager of
Alibaba International GEC 2024, added, "We are incredibly pleased
to have an opportunity to help nurture the next generation of
global e-commerce talents through a global competition. The
dedication and teamwork displayed by the participants are
inspiring, and we are excited to welcome some of these brilliant
young minds as interns at our company. We look forward to seeing
their ideas make a real impact in the e-commerce industry."
French student Melissa from Peking University, who interned at
Alibaba International following last year's GEC, remarked: "This
thrilling internship journey has deepened my understanding of the
Chinese market. The immersive experiences have also significantly
boosted my professional skills, sharpening my edge in competitor
analysis, data analysis, cross-team collaboration and
problem-solving."
For more information and updates on Alibaba International GEC
2024, please visit
https://aidc-jobs.alibaba.com/GEC/index/program
# # #
About Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group
Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group 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 Contacts
Lingshan Lu
PR Manager
Alibaba International Digital Commerce
lulingshan.lls@alibaba-inc.com
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