Alibaba's Jack Ma Reemerges as Company Pushes into AI, Challenges JD.com and Meituan

Alibaba Group's former CEO Jack Ma has re-emerged at the center of the company's strategy, focusing on artificial intelligence and cloud services. Ma's return has been branded "Make Alibaba Great Again" and has led to significant investments in AI and cloud infrastructure. This has resulted in Alibaba's cloud revenue growing 26% in a single quarter, and its stock performance outpacing the NYSE Composite Index. Ma has also reasserted himself in Alibaba's core e-commerce unit, restoring the company's position in food delivery.

Alibaba Group's former CEO Jack Ma has re-emerged at the center of the company's strategy, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services. Ma's return has been branded "Make Alibaba Great Again" and has led to significant investments in AI and cloud infrastructure. This strategic shift has resulted in Alibaba's cloud revenue growing 26% in a single quarter, and its stock performance outpacing the NYSE Composite Index. Additionally, Ma has reasserted himself in Alibaba's core e-commerce unit, restoring the company's position in food delivery.

Ma's influence extends beyond technology. He has directed senior leaders Eddie Wu, Joe Tsai, and Jiang Fan to prioritize investment in AI and cloud services, cementing Alibaba’s pivot toward emerging technologies. The commitment is substantial, with Alibaba allocating more than 380 billion yuan to AI and cloud infrastructure over a three-year period Jack Ma Back At Alibaba? What's Going On^[2].

This investment is already bearing fruit, with cloud revenue growing 26% in a single quarter, the fastest pace in years. The company’s renewed momentum has been reflected in its stock performance, with shares climbing nearly 90% year-to-date, far outpacing the NYSE Composite Index’s 12% gain Jack Ma Back At Alibaba? What's Going On^[2].

Ma's influence extends beyond technology. He has also reasserted himself in Alibaba’s core e-commerce unit. After the company’s market share slipped under former chief executive Daniel Zhang, Ma backed a leadership reshuffle that installed Jiang Fan to oversee a unified commerce division spanning food delivery, logistics, and travel services. The strategy has begun to restore Alibaba’s position in food delivery, where it now commands a 43% share against Meituan’s 47% Jack Ma Back At Alibaba? What's Going On^[2].