OCTOBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMAIRBNB ADOPTS ALIBABA'S QWEN AI FOR SMARTER CHAT SUPPORTAirbnb is integrating Alibaba's Qwen AI to enhance its customer service chatbot, according to CEO Brian Chesky, who said the model met Airbnb's needs better than alternatives like ChatGPT, particularly in terms of speed and cost efficiency.The San Francisco­based hospitality platform currently leverages 13 AI models from multiple providers, including OpenAI and Google, to power its expanding suite of intelligent services.Developed by Alibaba, Qwen is an open source AI system gaining attention among global companies for its flexible licensing and performance. Variants hosted on Hugging Face often use the Apache 2.0 license, allowing commercial use when self-hosted, while Alibaba's Qwen Chat interface restricts commercial outputs unless permitted.Key Highlights· Airbnb selects Alibaba's Qwen AI for faster, cost-efficient chatbot support· Qwen's open source model allows secure, commercial self-hosting· Cloud providers like AWS and Predibase enable scalable Qwen deploymentsThis dual-use structure allows enterprises like Airbnb to deploy Qwen locally for secure, scalable AI operations.Cloud platforms like AWS Bedrock now host Qwen3, offering automated scaling and enterprise-level security. Additionally, Predibase supports private fine-tuning of Qwen models on AWS, GCP, or Azure, enabling customized deployments with strong data privacy controls. The Qwen3 family includes models like Qwen3 8B and Qwen3 235B, optimized for different GPU infrastructures.With open source flexibility, cost control, and growing vendor support, Qwen is fast becoming a preferred ChatGPT alternative for large-scale AI integration. Airbnb's adoption marks a significant step in the mainstream use of open source AI within global enterprises. BAIDU & POSTBUS TO LAUNCH AUTONOMOUS RIDES IN SWITZERLANDBaidu's Apollo Go and Switzerland's PostBus are joining forces to launch AmiGo, a fully autonomous ride-hailing service across eastern Switzerland, starting December 2025.The project will deploy Baidu's RT6 autonomous electric vehicles, marking the Chinese tech giant's first major European mobility collaboration.The pilot phase will include mapping runs and safety-driver trials across St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden, expanding to select user rides in 2026 before achieving full driverless operations by late 2026. The initiative aligns with Switzerland's Ordinance on Automated Driving (effective March 2025), which allows Level 4 autonomous services on pre-approved routes under remote supervision.Key Highlights· Baidu's Apollo Go and PostBus to launch AmiGo in eastern Switzerland by Dec 2025· First trials with safety drivers, fully driverless rides by late 2026· Supported by Swiss cantons with Level 4 automation under new driving lawsBacked by cantonal and federal authorities, AmiGo represents a key milestone in Europe's transition to smart, sustainable mobility. PostBus will operate the service and invest in energy management systems and depot charging, leveraging Switzerland's goal of 20,000 public charging points by 2025.The move creates opportunities for EV infrastructure providers, battery analytics firms, and energy software vendors as Switzerland ramps up smart transport integration.With Apollo Go's 14 million autonomous rides globally, this partnership positions Baidu at the forefront of global driverless technology innovation.
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