Alibaba CEO highlights AI advancement at China’s internet forum

The agenda at this year’s Wuzhen summit focuses heavily on AI, as China’s tech rivalry with the US grows

Reading Time:2 minutes

Eddie Wu Yongming, CEO of Alibaba Group Holding, speaks at the 2024 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:00am, 21 Nov 2024Updated: 6:52pm, 21 Nov 2024

Alibaba Group Holding is advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in China to unleash productivity across various industries, chief executive Eddie Wu Yongming said on Wednesday at the country’s annual internet conference.

The e-commerce giant is committed to laying the infrastructural groundwork and supporting systems for AI development in the country, Wu told attendees at the World Internet Conference hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China in the canal town of Wuzhen in eastern Zhejiang province.

“In the next three decades, AI will comprehensively enhance productivity across the globe,” he said, according to a statement from Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post.

“Artificial intelligence is gradually permeating various industries to drive a series of productivity revolutions,” Wu said, adding that the firm already offers open-source versions of its AI models for use by partners in traditional industries.

This year’s World Internet Conference opened on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

The agenda at this year’s Wuzhen summit focuses heavily on artificial intelligence. It features panels on topics such as “responsible AI development and applications”, “AI innovation and governance” and “AI empowering new productive forces”. According to the published schedule, the conference will set up a special AI expert committee.