Alibaba Group Holding’s cloud computing division plans to broaden its artificial intelligence (AI) services, featuring its Qwen family of models, to its international data centers in 2025. This move aims to bolster its infrastructure to address the rising demand from both international and Chinese firms seeking worldwide opportunities, according to a company executive.

The company intends to provide its flagship Qwen large language models, along with Model Studio, which offers access to third-party models, through its primary data centers globally, according to Liu Weiguang, senior vice-president of Alibaba Cloud, speaking at an event in shenzhen on Tuesday.

Alibaba, based in Hangzhou, currently manages 29 data centers. These include two in the US, one in London, one in Dubai, and 15 across mainland China and Hong Kong, according to its website. Some of Alibaba’s AI products are already available in certain international locations,such as Model Studio,which was launched in Singapore in July 2024.

Liu highlighted its global partners Microsoft and Siemens, in addition to its partnership with Nvidia in the area of embodied intelligence, closely related to robotics. Alibaba intends to establish more partnerships this year, particularly in AI and embodied intelligence, he added.

Global AI Expansion

The expansion of AI services to overseas data centers signifies a strategic move by Alibaba Cloud to capture a larger share of the global AI market. By offering its Qwen models and Model Studio in more locations, the company aims to provide businesses with the tools they need to develop and deploy AI applications worldwide.

“Alibaba planned to secure more partnerships this year, especially in AI and embodied intelligence.”

This initiative aligns with the increasing demand for AI solutions across various industries, as companies seek to leverage AI to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation.

Partnerships and Innovation

Alibaba’s focus on partnerships, particularly with companies like Microsoft, Siemens, and Nvidia, underscores the importance of collaboration in the AI ecosystem. By working with leading technology providers, Alibaba aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies into its AI offerings and provide customers with comprehensive solutions.

The emphasis on embodied intelligence, which combines AI with robotics, reflects a forward-looking approach to AI advancement. Embodied intelligence has the potential to revolutionize industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare, by enabling robots to perform complex tasks and interact with the physical world in a more intuitive way.