From shifting trade policies to rising costs, small and medium-sized business owners are, without a doubt, facing headwinds. However, they are also facing new opportunities that could help them quickly adapt to the whiplash-inducing forces beyond their control. Conversations around using AI to confront those headwinds were at the forefront of CoCreate 2025, a summit dedicated to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The event was hosted by leading e-commerce platform Alibaba.com, where a record-breaking 3,500-plus attendees gathered in Las Vegas September 4–5, 2025.
“If I had to choose one word to describe this year’s headline about SMEs and global trade, it would be turbulence,” Kuo Zang, president of Alibaba.com, said during the keynote address at CoCreate. “But here’s the truth: You are already living with turbulence every single day, and your courage should be the…
