Alibaba Cloud Expands Global Partnerships via AI Growth
It is no secret that AI is rapidly reshaping industries worldwide, from manufacturing to healthcare, retail to finance.
As part of this digital transformation, cloud computing giants are deploying increasingly sophisticated AI solutions to meet the evolving needs of businesses.
A company that is thriving off utilising AI across multiple and global industries, is Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group.
The company has reported significant growth in its AI services and announced new partnerships across various sectors.
These developments demonstrate the accelerating adoption of AI and cloud technologies in sectors ranging from automotive to education, reflecting a global trend towards AI-driven innovation.
Alibaba Cloud's expansion also mirrors similar moves by tech giants such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, all of which are investing heavily in AI capabilities to maintain their competitive edge in the global cloud market.
AI adoption in automotive and construction
The report indicates that Alibaba Cloud's generative AI (Gen AI) platform, Model Studio, has attracted over 300,000 customers, a substantial increase from 90,000 in May.
This platform is powered by Alibaba's proprietary Tongyi foundational model, a type of AI system designed to understand and generate human-like text and data.
In the automotive sector, for example, Alibaba Cloud has partnered with NVIDIA, a leading graphics processing unit manufacturer, to develop a large multimodal model (LMM) solution.
This technology aims to enhance in-car voice assistants, enabling them to engage in complex conversations and provide contextual recommendations.
The report also reveals that XPENG, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is utilising Alibaba Cloud's AI models to improve its smart cockpit experience.
The technology allows for more intuitive voice commands and personalised features, such as custom car sticker designs generated by AI.
These advancements in AI and voice recognition technology could have significant implications for the construction industry, particularly in the development of smart buildings and infrastructure.
Voice-controlled systems could also potentially be integrated into construction equipment and building management systems, enhancing safety and efficiency on job sites.
Alibaba’s Cloud services in gaming and travel
In the gaming sector, Alibaba Cloud has provided infrastructure support for miHoYo, a Chinese video game developer, in launching its new game "Zenless Zone Zero".
The cloud services helped manage high server loads and process large volumes of game data, facilitating a smooth launch for the game which received nearly 50 million pre-beta registrations.
This demonstrates the scalability and robustness of Alibaba Cloud's infrastructure, capable of handling massive concurrent user loads – a critical factor in the gaming industry.
Meanwhile, in the travel sector, the report says Alibaba Cloud is supporting Atlas, a Singapore-based travel technology provider.
Atlas uses Alibaba's infrastructure and AI services to power its digital chatbot, which provides customer support for over 50 global travel sellers and 150 low-cost airlines.
This application of AI in customer service showcases the technology's potential to enhance efficiency and user experience in the travel industry, which has been increasingly relying on digital solutions to streamline operations and improve customer engagement.
The ability to handle large data volumes and provide stable, scalable infrastructure could be particularly relevant to construction firms dealing with complex project management and data analysis tasks.
Educational initiatives and industry applications
Alibaba Cloud has also signed an agreement with UNESCO-ICHEI to launch an online certification programme in generative AI and cloud computing.
The programme targets educators and students in higher education institutes across Asia and Africa, aiming to benefit around 12,000 individuals by the end of 2025.
This educational initiative could potentially contribute to the development of a skilled workforce capable of implementing AI and cloud technologies in various industries, including construction.
Jingren Zhou, CTO of Alibaba Cloud, states: "Our collaborations with industry-leading organisations demonstrate our dedication to delivering enhanced customer experiences and boosting enterprise efficiency through innovative solutions.
“Together with our partners, we want to empower more businesses and individuals to unlock the potential of generative AI through digital training and accessible cloud solutions."
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