HANGZHOU: Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has reaffirmed his long-held view that artificial intelligence (AI) should serve human interests—not replace them.
In a rare public appearance at Alibaba Group’s headquarters on Thursday, the Chinese tech mogul urged technologists to ensure AI remains a tool that empowers people rather than a force that threatens livelihoods.
“We’re not trying to make machines more like humans,” Ma said. “We’re trying to make them understand humans—to think like us and do things we can’t.”
Addressing employees at the company’s Hangzhou campus, Ma emphasised the ethical responsibility of developers to align AI advancements with human values and societal needs. He described AI not as a threat, but as a powerful enabler when used appropriately.
“Technology isn’t just about conquering the stars and the oceans,” he said. “It’s about preserving the spark among all of us.”
Alibaba, once best known for dominating China’s e-commerce market, has shifted its focus sharply towards AI innovation. Its Qwen AI model series has received industry recognition, positioning the company alongside global leaders such as OpenAI and China’s Deepseek.
In February, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu announced the company’s strategic pivot toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), aiming to develop AI systems with capabilities comparable to human intellect.
Ma’s latest remarks come as China repositions its private sector to spur economic recovery. Once at odds with regulators over industry reform, Ma has recently resurfaced in both corporate and national forums. He joined other entrepreneurs in February for a high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss technology and innovation—signalling renewed state support for private enterprise.
Though Ma stepped back from public life in recent years, Thursday’s appearance rekindled echoes of his visionary leadership.
His message was clear: the future of AI should be grounded in compassion, creativity, and service to humanity.–BLOOMBERG
