BEIJING, China — China’s famous “Lipstick King” is trading lipstick recommendations for artificial intelligence, marking a surprising new chapter in the country’s livestream shopping industry.
Li Jiaqi, one of China’s most influential online shopping personalities, sold 100,000 monthly memberships to Alibaba’s QwenWork office AI service in just 30 minutes during a Taobao Live broadcast on November 2.
The purchases represented approximately two trillion AI tokens, the units used by artificial intelligence models to process text and other information.
The livestream marked Li’s first major sale of AI products, introducing his enormous shopping audience to a new category of digital products during China’s 2026 Singles’ Day shopping festival.
The campaign also featured AI-powered laptops and workplace devices, demonstrating how China’s technology companies are attempting to make artificial intelligence part of everyday consumer spending.
For years, Singles’ Day has been associated with discounted cosmetics, electronics, clothing and household products. This year, computing credits are becoming another major attraction.
But the development raises a bigger question: Could AI subscriptions become the next must-buy consumer product, replacing traditional shopping deals as one of China’s biggest online retail attractions?
THE LIPSTICK KING MAKES AN UNEXPECTED MOVE INTO AI
Li Jiaqi earned the nickname “Lipstick King” through his ability to sell enormous quantities of beauty products during livestream broadcasts.
Known for his energetic product demonstrations and persuasive recommendations, Li built a massive following on China’s e-commerce platforms.
His influence became particularly visible in the cosmetics industry, where his livestreams could generate significant sales within short periods.
However, his latest campaign signals a shift in the products he is willing to promote.
Instead of focusing on lipstick, makeup and beauty products, Li introduced viewers to Alibaba’s QwenWork AI service.
The livestream featured Chen Yusen, an Alibaba Group vice-president and chief executive of QwenWork, who explained how AI tools could help users complete everyday tasks.
Their discussion included the possibility of creating a digital version of Li that could interact with fans around the clock.
Chen said artificial intelligence could assist people with routine activities, allowing them to spend more time with their families, although he did not suggest that AI could replace Li himself.
The broadcast demonstrated how established livestream personalities can help technology companies introduce complicated digital products to mainstream consumers.
100,000 QWENWORK MEMBERSHIPS SOLD IN JUST 30 MINUTES
The headline figure from the livestream was the sale of 100,000 monthly QwenWork memberships within half an hour.
According to Alibaba, those memberships represented approximately two trillion AI tokens.
Tokens are the basic computational units used by AI models to process information. Depending on the system, they can represent portions of words, text or other data handled during interactions.
For ordinary consumers, purchasing tokens is similar to buying computing credits that can be used when interacting with AI services.
They can support activities such as generating documents, summarising information, producing presentations and assisting with other productivity tasks.
The reported sales figure demonstrates how quickly a technology product can attract attention when promoted through a popular livestream personality.
However, the number represents memberships sold, not proof that customers have already consumed all the AI tokens included in their packages.
The exact level of discount compared with regular prices was also unclear in the initial announcement.
Nevertheless, the sales performance suggests that AI services are increasingly being marketed as products that ordinary consumers can purchase directly rather than tools reserved for technology professionals.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE AI TOKENS, AND WHY ARE PEOPLE BUYING THEM?
AI tokens are units used to measure the information processed by artificial intelligence models.
Whenever someone asks an AI assistant a question, requests a document or generates a response, the system processes information using tokens.
The amount consumed depends on the model, the length of the input, the generated response and the particular service being used.
For frequent users, token packages can become an important part of their AI expenses.
A business owner might use AI to draft emails, prepare reports and organise information. Students may use AI tools for research assistance and explanations, while office workers may rely on them to summarise documents and prepare presentations.
Businesses using AI more intensively may require substantially more computing credits.
Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at technology research firm Omdia, said frequent users can run out of credits, making purchases during major promotional periods a reasonable option.
However, buying a large token package does not automatically mean that a customer will receive better results.
The value depends on the services included, the supported AI models, the expiration rules and the user’s actual requirements.
For occasional users, a large prepaid package could become unnecessary spending.
ALIBABA AND JD.COM TURN AI TOKENS INTO A SINGLES’ DAY SHOPPING CATEGORY
The development extends beyond Li’s livestream.
Alibaba’s Tmall has introduced an AI Token Center for the 2026 Singles’ Day festival, allowing customers to purchase computing-credit packages from several AI providers.
The participating companies include:
- Alibaba Cloud
- MiniMax
- Moonshot AI
- Z.AI
Rival e-commerce platform JD.com has also introduced an AI token section featuring services from companies including DeepSeek, Z.AI and ByteDance’s Volcano Engine.
The expansion indicates that China’s major online shopping platforms are treating AI computing credits as a consumer product category in their own right.
Instead of purchasing only physical products, shoppers can now compare packages that provide access to artificial intelligence services.
This is an important development for technology companies seeking to generate revenue from their AI investments.
It also creates another competitive arena for providers attempting to attract customers through pricing, product features and distribution partnerships.
AI TOKEN SALES SURGED 450% IN OCTOBER
Alibaba reported that sales of AI token plans from October 1 to October 20 increased by 450% compared with the previous month.
The company also reported that sales of AI personal-computer laptops jumped more than 300% year-on-year during the first hour of the November 11 checkout period.
These figures suggest that interest in AI-related products was building even before the main Singles’ Day shopping date.
The growth also reflects a wider shift in how technology companies present artificial intelligence.
Rather than marketing AI exclusively as advanced software, companies are increasingly connecting it to products and services that consumers can use at home, at school and in the workplace.
AI-enabled laptops, voice recorders, desktop devices and subscription packages are becoming part of that strategy.
The goal is to make AI feel less like an experimental technology and more like an everyday utility.
However, the sales figures were reported by Alibaba and should not be confused with independently verified measures of long-term AI usage or customer satisfaction.
SINGLES’ DAY IS EVOLVING BEYOND COSMETICS AND ELECTRONICS
遥望科技双11：商家服务、内容化直播成突围关键词|直播_新浪财经_新浪网
Singles’ Day began in 2009 as an online shopping event designed to encourage consumer spending.
The annual promotion, traditionally associated with November 11, eventually grew into one of the world’s largest shopping festivals.
Over the years, its product categories expanded from fashion and cosmetics to electronics, household appliances and other consumer goods.
The introduction of AI token packages represents another stage in that evolution.
According to data provider Syntun, Singles’ Day generated approximately 1.70 trillion yuan in platform revenue in 2025.
The festival has become an important opportunity for retailers and technology companies to attract consumers through discounts, livestream promotions and limited-time offers.
The addition of AI computing credits suggests that platforms are now looking beyond physical merchandise for new sources of consumer spending.
This development could also influence future shopping campaigns in other markets, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes more widely integrated into daily activities.
CAN AI REALLY REPLACE HUMAN LIVESTREAM SELLERS?
Austin Li Jiaqi Is China’s “Lipstick King” and Its Emperor of Online Shopping – Business Insider
Li’s latest campaign is particularly interesting because it comes at a time when artificial intelligence is also changing the livestream shopping industry itself.
E-commerce platforms are increasingly experimenting with AI-generated presenters that can promote products and interact with customers for extended periods.
These virtual hosts can potentially reduce operating costs and allow merchants to run livestream sessions even when human presenters are unavailable.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously examined this development in China’s Lipstick King Faces Slower Growth as AI Reshapes Livestream Shopping.
The earlier report explored how AI-generated presenters could challenge traditional livestream business models as companies look for cheaper and more efficient ways to sell products online.
However, Li has argued that artificial intelligence and human presenters can coexist.
Human hosts offer personality, personal recommendations and the ability to respond to customers in ways that current automated systems may struggle to reproduce consistently.
A livestream personality can also build trust with an audience over many years.
That relationship can be difficult to replace with a virtual presenter, particularly when shoppers want advice based on individual preferences rather than basic product information.
The future of livestream commerce may therefore involve a combination of human presenters and AI technology rather than a complete replacement of one by the other.
THE BIGGEST RISK: CONSUMERS COULD PREPAY FOR TECHNOLOGY THAT QUICKLY BECOMES OUTDATED
Despite the impressive sales figures, AI token packages also introduce a potential problem for consumers.
Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, and services that appear attractive today may be replaced, upgraded or discontinued as newer models become available.
Customers purchasing prepaid credits must consider whether they will actually use the packages before they expire.
They should also examine which models are supported, whether credits can be transferred, and what happens if a service changes its pricing or features.
An attractive promotional price does not necessarily guarantee long-term value.
Omdia’s Lian Jye Su noted that relatively long expiry periods could encourage frequent users to stock up, but rapid changes in AI products may make some consumers hesitant to pay in advance.
This concern is particularly relevant to people who are still experimenting with AI and do not yet know how frequently they will use it.
For businesses, the decision may involve calculating whether prepaid credits are more economical than paying for individual subscriptions or usage-based services.
For ordinary shoppers, the safest approach is to purchase according to actual needs rather than treating AI tokens as another product that must be bought simply because it is on sale.
WHY CHINA’S AI SHOPPING BOOM MATTERS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
China’s latest Singles’ Day campaign offers a glimpse into how artificial intelligence could become part of mainstream retail.
The country’s enormous e-commerce market gives technology companies access to millions of potential customers through established shopping platforms.
Livestream personalities provide another advantage because they already have audiences accustomed to purchasing products through online demonstrations.
By combining these two systems, companies can introduce AI products to consumers who might otherwise find technical services difficult to understand.
The strategy could eventually influence how technology companies in other countries market subscriptions, computing services and AI-powered devices.
The Philippines is also experiencing growing interest in artificial intelligence across education, business and digital services.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported on DepEd’s Plan to Distribute More Than 170,000 MacBook Neo Laptops to Teachers, highlighting the increasing importance of digital tools in Philippine classrooms.
Although the education initiative is different from China’s consumer AI token campaign, both developments reflect the expanding role of technology in everyday work and learning.
The next challenge for countries adopting AI will be ensuring that access to technology translates into practical benefits rather than simply encouraging people to spend more on digital services.
THE BOTTOM LINE: AI TOKENS COULD BECOME THE NEXT BIG ONLINE SHOPPING PRODUCT — BUT WILL CONSUMERS KEEP BUYING THEM?
Li Jiaqi’s decision to promote artificial intelligence during China’s Singles’ Day festival represents a significant change in the livestream shopping business.
The sale of 100,000 QwenWork monthly memberships in just 30 minutes demonstrates how established online personalities can introduce new technology products to mainstream consumers.
Alibaba and JD.com’s decision to establish dedicated AI token shopping categories further suggests that computing credits are becoming an important part of China’s digital economy.
The reported 450% monthly increase in AI token sales also points to growing demand, although long-term usage and customer satisfaction remain separate questions.
For consumers, the appeal is clear: AI tools can help with everyday tasks, improve productivity and reduce the time required for certain activities.
But prepaid credits also carry risks, especially in an industry where technology changes quickly.
For livestream sellers, the challenge is equally significant. Human personalities still have the power to build trust and influence purchasing decisions, but AI is changing how products are marketed and how online businesses operate.
China’s Singles’ Day festival may therefore be entering a new era in which shoppers purchase not only physical products but also access to computing power.
But as artificial intelligence becomes another item in the online shopping cart, will consumers see AI tokens as an essential investment in their future—or could the rush to buy digital credits become the next major shopping bubble?
