Jack Ma, a co-founder of Alibaba and a vocal advocate for artificial intelligence, cautioned against AI replacing humans and instead emphasized the importance of AI serving human needs.
The Chinese billionaire, who once compared AI to love, emphasized that technology should be designed to enhance people’s lives and protect their livelihoods. Ma made these remarks during a rare appearance at Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. on Thursday.
“We’re not trying to make machines more like humans. We’re trying to make them understand humans, think like us, and perform tasks beyond human capabilities,” Ma said to Alibaba employees at their Hangzhou campus. He stressed the responsibility of technologists to ensure that AI understands and supports humanity.
Alibaba, known for its success in e-commerce in China, has recently made a significant push into artificial intelligence. The company introduced a popular AI model series called Qwen, positioning itself to compete with OpenAI and China’s Deepseek.
In February, CEO Eddie Wu stated that the company’s primary focus was now on artificial general intelligence, aiming to develop AI systems with human-level intelligence.
This strategic shift helped the company rebound from challenges following clashes between Ma and the Chinese Communist Party over private sector regulations. Ma, once China’s most prominent business leader, made sporadic appearances at Alibaba facilities and engaged with employees on the company’s internal forum.
Recently, Ma participated in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping alongside other notable entrepreneurs to discuss new technologies, signaling Beijing’s support for the private sector’s role in the country’s economic revitalization.
During his address, Ma underscored the importance of technology in fostering human connections and preserving individuality.
