Alibaba recently adjusted the organizational structure of its AI application "Tongyi", splitting it from Alibaba Cloud and integrating it into the Alibaba Intelligent Information Business Group. This move aims to optimize Alibaba's AI To C application layout and enhance the competitiveness of "Tongyi" in the consumer market. This move is not a simple department adjustment, but an important step in Alibaba's AI strategic layout, reflecting the trend of its strategic focus shifting from basic research to application implementation.
Recently, "Intelligent Emergence" reported that Alibaba's artificial intelligence (AI) application "Tongyi" has been officially separated from Alibaba Cloud and merged into Alibaba's intelligent information business group. This adjustment is regarded as an important step in Alibaba’s internal optimization of AI To C (consumer-oriented) application layout.
According to people familiar with the matter, this adjustment involves the product managers and related engineering teams in the "Tongyi" To C direction, and these teams will be transferred as a whole to the Alibaba Intelligent Information Business Group. After the adjustment, "Tongyi"'s PC and App teams are on par with Alibaba's smart search product "Quark", while "Tongyi Lab" remains within the Alibaba Cloud system.
This move reflects Alibaba’s strategic planning at the AI application level. Previously, the "Tongyi" large model family and its applications all belonged to the Alibaba Cloud system, with core technologies developed by DAMO Academy, which mainly focused on innovative research in basic science and cutting-edge technologies. As Alibaba Cloud focuses on To B (enterprise-oriented) business, the original To C application development and promotion does not fully fit its business model. Therefore, integrating "Tongyi" into the intelligent information business group will help it better serve the consumer market.
"Tongyi" is a large model family launched by Alibaba. It relies on the strong technical research and development capabilities of DAMO Academy to provide support for Alibaba's many AI applications. However, application development and promotion in the To C market requires a business model that is closer to consumers, and Alibaba Intelligent Information Business Group has more advantages in user operations and market promotion. Through this spin-off, "Tongyi" is expected to more efficiently exert its value within Alibaba and further promote the popularization of AI technology in the consumer market.
Industry insiders believe that this adjustment also reflects Alibaba's strategic focus in the field of AI gradually shifting from basic research to application implementation, striving to seize more opportunities in the fiercely competitive AI market through the optimal allocation of internal resources.
Through this organizational structure adjustment, Alibaba aims to strengthen the competitiveness of "Tongyi" in the C-end market and accelerate the application of AI technology. This move also shows Alibaba’s determination to continue investing in the AI field. The future development of “Tongyi” in the consumer market is worth looking forward to.