China's 2026 618 shopping festival shows persistent consumer weakness while AI integration across Alibaba, JD.com, and Douyin reshapes e-commerce

China's 2026 618 shopping festival shows persistent consumer weakness while AI integration across Alibaba, JD.com, and Douyin reshapes e-commerce

China’s 618 shopping festival has gone heavily AI this year, but consumer demand remains cautious, with limited appetite for AI that buys for you.