Alibaba forms task force to boost AI development after Qwen chief's exit

Summary

Alibaba has formed a new task force to accelerate foundation model development following the departure of Qwen AI division head Lin Junyang. The move signals a renewed push to coordinate resources across the group as competition in artificial intelligence intensifies.

BEIJING, March 5, 2026 —
Alibaba Group Holding said on Thursday it has formed a new task force focused on advancing foundation model development after the departure of a senior executive overseeing its Qwen AI unit.

The initiative will be led by Group CEO Eddie Wu, Group CTO Wu Zeming, and Alibaba Cloud CTO Zhou Jingren, according to an internal letter to staff reviewed by reporters.

The move comes after Lin Junyang, head of the Qwen division, confirmed his departure publicly earlier this week.

Centralized push on AI

According to the internal communication, the leadership team will mobilize resources from across Alibaba’s businesses to accelerate development of its large language models and related technologies.

Zhou Jingren will continue to lead Tongyi Laboratory — Alibaba’s primary AI research arm — while coordinating closely with the task force on ongoing projects.

The restructuring suggests Alibaba may be moving toward a more integrated approach to AI development, bringing together its cloud, research and commerce units to share engineering talent and computing resources.

Leadership changes draw attention

Lin’s exit has added to concerns about leadership turnover within the Qwen division at a time when competition for AI talent in China is intensifying.

In its internal note, Alibaba emphasized its commitment to directing additional resources toward AI initiatives and maintaining momentum across its model development roadmap.

Why This Matters

• AI priority rising: The move highlights how central AI development has become to Alibaba’s strategy.
• Competition intensifying: Chinese tech firms are racing to scale foundation models amid global rivalry.
• Leadership focus: Centralized oversight may help ensure continuity after executive departures.
• Investor signal: The restructuring underscores Alibaba’s intent to remain competitive in generative AI.

FAQs

Q1. Who leads the new AI task force?

CEO Eddie Wu, Group CTO Wu Zeming and Alibaba Cloud CTO Zhou Jingren.

Q2. Why was the task force created?

It follows leadership changes in the Qwen unit and aims to accelerate AI development across the company.

Q3. What happens to Tongyi Laboratory?

It continues operating under Zhou Jingren while working alongside the task force.

Q4. What does this mean for Alibaba’s AI strategy?

It suggests greater coordination across divisions to strengthen model development efforts.