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☆ Alibaba's research arm shuts quantum computing lab amid restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Alibaba Group sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Chinese tech giant Alibaba (9988.HK) has cut a quantum computing laboratory and team from its research arm, donating both the lab and related experimental equipment to Zhejiang University, the company said on Monday. A spokesperson for Alibaba's DAMO Academy, Alibaba's in-house research initiative which included the lab, said the academy would continue to focus on technology research with the aim of being a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) research. The source said Zhejiang University would try and recruit the affected employees to work on its own quantum research. DAMO Academy was launched in 2017 by Alibaba Group to research advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Persons: Aly, Eddie Wu, Casey Hall, Miral Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, HK, Zhejiang University, Alibaba's DAMO Academy, Alibaba's, Reuters, DAMO, Alibaba Group, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

Alibaba Group sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. Zhang also handed over the role of group CEO to Wu on Sunday as scheduled. "Alibaba Cloud has lost some ground with government and state-owned enterprise clients, which were previously a stronghold for the company," Li said. "During his leadership tenure, Alibaba Cloud's business did not improve significantly despite his efforts. Zhang likely realised that the challenges facing Alibaba Cloud's lacklustre growth were beyond what he could influence or control as an individual executive."

Persons: Aly, Daniel Zhang, Alibaba, Eddie Wu, Zhang, Wu, Canalys, Li Chengdong, Li, Sern Ling, Union Bancaire Privee, Donny Kowk, Josh Ye, Yelin, Anne Marie Roantree, Brenda Goh, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, China's, Reuters, DAMO Academy, Huawei Technologies, Union Bancaire, HK, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, HK, Alibaba, Beijing, Yelin Mo

☆ Alibaba founder Jack Ma gives first class as visiting professor at University of Tokyo
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Alibaba founder Jack Ma gave a lecture as a visiting professor to the University of Tokyo, as the high-profile Chinese entrepreneur retreats further from his business empire following Beijing’s regulatory crackdown. His return was a symbolic move and probably a “planned media event” by Beijing intended to appease private sector fears, according to analysts. In April, the University of Hong Kong announced that Ma would join its business school for the next three years. Ma became a professor at the University of Tokyo on May 1, and his period of stay is until October 31, a profile page of Ma shows. Beijing needs the private sector more than ever to shore up growth and create jobs.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Jack Ma, Ma, –, Masa Son, Ma chatted, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, University of Tokyo, Alibaba Group, University of Hong Kong, Damo Academy Locations: Hong Kong, Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Shanghai, Beijing, Spain, Hangzhou

☆ Jack Ma appears at an Alibaba event in China days after an executive says he's 'alive' and 'happy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ma taught his first class at the University of Tokyo last week, per the South China Morning Post. Jack Ma has popped up at an Alibaba event, just a few days after its president described him as "alive" and "happy." Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported he took his first class on June 12 at the institution. He's well, he's happy. He's teaching at a university in Tokyo, spending more time in China," he said, per CNBC.

Persons: Jack Ma, Ma, Michael Evans, Jack Organizations: Alibaba, Bloomberg, University of Tokyo, China Morning, Damo Academy, China Morning Post, CNBC Locations: Hangzhou, Thailand, Bangkok, Beijing, China, Tokyo

☆ Factbox: How Alibaba's six new business units stack up
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The company's CEO Daniel Zhang said the business units will each be free to pursue funding and IPOs independently, which points to a possible carving out in the future. Below are the six divisions:TAOBAO TMALL COMMERCE GROUPThe Taobao Tmall Commerce Group will cover Alibaba's domestic-facing e-commerce marketplaces, which make up over two-thirds of Alibaba's total revenue. Despite the scale of Alibaba's e-commerce operations, growth in the business has slowed. Taobao Tmall Commerce Group will remain wholly owned by Alibaba Group after the restructuring, the company said, even as the other units will be free to seek fundraisings and listings. Daniel Zhang, current chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group, will serve as CEO of the Cloud Intelligence Group.

☆ Factbox: Chinese tech firms working on ChatGPT-style technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A response in Chinese by ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, is seen on its website in this illustration picture taken February 9, 2023. Like Microsoft and Google，Chinese tech giants such as Baidu and Alibaba (9988.HK) as well as smaller start-ups have been working on AI projects for years. The e-commerce giant said large language models and generative AI have been areas of focus since it formed its research institute Damo Academy in 2017. NETEASEGaming firm NetEase (9999.HK) plans to deploy large language models technology to serve its education business, a source familiar with the company told Reuters on Feb. 8. 360 SECURITY TECHNOLOGY INC360 Security Technology Inc (601360.SS) said on Feb. 8 it possessed language model technology but that it could not give a clear indication on when it would launch any related products.

☆ ChatGPT frenzy sweeps China as firms scramble for home-grown options
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] A response in Chinese by ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, is seen on its website in this illustration picture taken February 9, 2023. OpenAI or ChatGPT itself is not blocked by Chinese authorities but OpenAI does not allow users in mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Russia and parts of Africa to sign up. Dozens of bots rigged to ChatGPT technology have emerged on WeChat, with hobbyists using it to make programmes or automated accounts that can interact with users. ChatGPT supports Chinese language interaction and is highly capable of conversing in Chinese, which has helped drive its unofficial adoption in the country. CENSORSHIPReuters' tests of ChatGPT indicate that the chatbot is not averse to questions that would be sensitive in mainland China.

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