WORLDEF Prime Antalya 2026 - Upcoming Event

Register Now

Alibaba Makes New Move in Robotic Artificial Intelligence: Qwen-Robot Series Introduced

Qwen-Robot

Chinese technology and e-commerce giant Alibaba has introduced its new robotic model family, the Qwen-Robot series, which carries artificial intelligence beyond chatbots. Developed on the company’s Qwen foundation model family, the new series aims to enable robots to move more intelligently in the physical world, understand their surroundings, and perform complex tasks.

Alibaba’s move shows that the new focus in global artificial intelligence competition is not limited to systems that generate text and images, but also includes embodied AI models capable of carrying out tasks in the physical world.

The Qwen-Robot Series Consists Of Three Foundation Models

The Qwen-Robot series consists of three main models: Qwen-RobotNav, Qwen-RobotManip, and Qwen-RobotWorld. Qwen-RobotNav focuses on enabling robots to navigate different environments, reach targets, and follow tasks. The model brings together five different navigation tasks under one framework, including instructio n following, going to a target point, object-oriented navigation, target tracking, and autonomous driving.

Qwen-RobotManip, on the other hand, was designed to improve robots’ capabilities to grasp, carry, place, and perform physical tasks involving objects. This model aims to offer robotic arms and different hardware structures the ability to move more flexibly.

The third model in the series, Qwen-RobotWorld, is based on a world modeling approach that enables robots to understand their environment and predict future physical scenarios. In this way, the goal is for robots not only to perceive what they see, but also to make more accurate decisions by anticipating possible outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence Gives Robots a “Brain”

According to Alibaba’s statement, the Qwen-Robot series was developed to enable robots to be used more reliably and for more general purposes in the real world. The models can be used separately, while they can also work together to give robots the capacity to navigate, interact with objects, and model the physical world.

The new series aims to bridge the gap between “seeing” and “taking action” in artificial intelligence. This approach aims to make it possible for robots not only to understand commands, but also to transform those commands into physical movements.

China’s Ambition in the Robotics Race Is Strengthening

Alibaba’s Qwen- Robot move is regarded as a new indicator of accelerating competition in artificial intelligence and robotics in China. Technology companies in the country are increasing their investments to use artificial intelligence more widely in industry, logistics, the service sector, and autonomous systems.

With the Qwen-Robot series, Alibaba aims to take on a stronger role in next-generation robotic solutions that move artificial intelligence out of digital screens and into the physical world. This development may pave the way for robots to be used across a wider range of areas in the coming period, from production and warehousing to transportation and daily life support systems.

Alibaba Partners with UEFA Men’s Club Competitions and UEFA EURO 2028

UEFA

Alibaba has become UEFA’s official and exclusive partner for artificial intelligence, cloud computing services, and e-commerce. The partnership will enable the use of Alibaba Cloud and Qwen Artificial Intelligence to deliver smart operations and personalized digital experiences for fans.

Alibaba Group announced a multi-year partnership with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and UC3, the joint venture between UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC) that controls and manages the strategic marketing, sales, and implementation of commercial rights for UEFA club competitions. Alibaba Group has become the official and exclusive AI, Cloud Computing Services, and E-commerce partner of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, and UEFA EURO 2028 from 2027/2028 to 2032/2033.

Alibaba Will Power Fan and Content Experiences Across UEFA’s Flagship Competitions

As part of the partnership, Alibaba’s advanced artificial intelligence capabilities will be used to support fan engagement as well as media and content management through the Qwen Large Language Model (LLM). Together with its cloud computing infrastructure and global e-commerce platform, Alibaba will power immersive fan and content experiences worldwide across UEFA’s flagship competitions.

“Alibaba Will Support UEFA’s Goal of Enhancing the Experience of Fans Around the World”

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “We are delighted to welcome Alibaba as a global partner for UEFA EURO 2028 and as a future partner of our men’s club competitions. Their expertise in artificial intelligence, cloud computing technology, and e-commerce will support UEFA’s commitment to thoughtful innovation and its goal of enhancing the experience of supporters around the world. Together, we can bring fans closer to the game in new and meaningful ways, making our competitions feel even more captivating, engaging, and accessible, while preserving the traditions, emotions, and spirit that define European football.”

“We Believe That the Unifying Power of Football Is the Mission That Brings Alibaba and UEFA Together”

Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai said: “We believe that football is a shared language around the world and that the unifying power of the game at all levels for all fans is the mission that brings Alibaba and UEFA together. I am excited to work with UEFA to realize the vision of this multi-year partnership. We will commit our cloud computing, full-stack artificial intelligence, and global e-commerce capabilities to support UEFA and UC3 in delivering these iconic competitions to fans around the world.”

Qwen LLM Will Support UEFA in Building Its Own Next-Generation AI Capabilities

Alibaba’s cloud infrastructure and Qwen LLM will support UEFA in building its own next-generation artificial intelligence capabilities. Fans will benefit from personalized, AI-powered experiences that deepen their engagement with the sport. Through Alibaba’s global e-commerce network, fans around the world will soon be able to enjoy seamless access to a wide range of official merchandise from the UEFA men’s club competitions and UEFA EURO 2028™ starting from 2027/2028.

This partnership sets a new global benchmark in sports innovation. By combining UEFA’s unique sporting heritage and global fan base with Alibaba’s expertise in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and e-commerce, it creates a scalable model for sports federations, leagues, and teams to engage with fans worldwide.

The development and execution of the partnership between UEFA, UC3, and Alibaba was facilitated by Relevent, the world’s leading commercial rights partner dedicated to international football. The UE FA EURO 2028 partnership will be managed by CAA11.

JD.com Becomes the Official E-Commerce Partner of the UEFA Champions League

Data of 500,000 Volunteers from UK-Based UK Biobank Was Put Up for Sale on Alibaba

Biobank

Data belonging to volunteers of the UK-based UK Biobank was put up for sale on the Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba. The British government is investigating how the data was listed for sale.

Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South and Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in the United Kingdom, told the House of Commons that data belonging to the health organization UK Biobank was briefly listed for sale on Alibaba by at least three vendors. Health data voluntarily provided to a charity for research purposes was put up for sale by three vendors on the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. One listing was seen to contain data from 500,000 people.

UK Biobank Confirmed That the Data of Approximately Half a Million People Was Anonymized

UK Biobank, which holds a vast biomedical dataset, confirmed that information relating to approximately half a million volunteers had been anonymized and listed for sale on Alibaba. Bio bank acknowledged that it could not guarantee individuals could not be identified if the data fell into unauthorized hands. However, the organization stated that this data did not contain people’s names, addresses, contact details, or telephone numbers.

“We Revoked Access for the Three Research Institutions Identified as the Source of the Information”

Ian Murray said that the data was no longer listed on Alibaba and that they did not believe any buyer had paid to obtain the data. Murray thanked the Chinese government for “the speed and seriousness with which they worked with us to help remove these listings.” Murray stated that they ensured the Bio bank charity revoked access for the three research institutions identified as the source of this information.

As a short-term precautionary response to the incident, UK Biobank suspended all access to its research platform. UK Biobank CEO Rory Collins published an apology message, saying: “We have temporarily suspended all access to the UK Biobank research platform, while putting in place a strict limit on the size of files that can be taken off the platform.”

One of the Largest Biobanks in the World

The charity UK Biobank is one of the large biobanks in the world. These bio banks are often government-supported projects that aim to collect and organize various medical data and samples, typically on an anonymized basis. These systems are regarded as one of the most important breakthroughs in modern biomedical research by enabling researchers to access vast datasets quickly and easily.

Alibaba Revenue Rises 1.7% but Misses Estimates as Profit Drops 66%

alibaba revenue rises 17percent but misses estimates as profit drops 66percent

Alibaba reported a modest 1.7% increase in quarterly revenue, reaching approximately 284.84 billion yuan ($41.28 billion), but the figure came in below analyst expectations. The results highlight continued pressure on China’s e-commerce sector, where consumer demand remains weak despite ongoing promotional efforts.

Heavy spending on discounts and faster delivery options has not been enough to significantly boost consumption. Ongoing concerns around income stability and the broader economic environment continue to weigh on consumer confidence, limiting the impact of major shopping campaigns.

Profit Declines Sharply Amid Rising Costs

While revenue showed slight growth, profitability declined sharply. Alibaba’s net income fell by 66.3%, reflecting rising operational costs and continued investments in logistics, pricing strategies, and user acquisition. The company, like many of its competitors, appears to be prioritizing market share over short-term profitability in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Cloud and AI Business Shows Strong Momentum

At the same time, Alibaba’s cloud business delivered strong results, with revenue growing 36% year-on-year. The growth is largely driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence solutions and cloud infrastructure. As AI adoption accelerates, this segment is becoming a key pillar of the company’s long-term strategy.

Alibaba is also restructuring parts of its business to focus more heavily on AI-driven services. New initiatives are aimed at expanding its capabilities in digital assistants and enterprise solutions, signaling a broader shift beyond traditional e-commerce. However, while AI usage is growing, monetization and long-term user engagement are still developing.

Market Reaction and Outlook

Following the earnings release, Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares fell more than 6%, reflecting investor concerns over weaker-than-expected performance and declining profitability. The reaction underscores the challenges the company faces as it navigates slower growth in its core business while investing in future technologies.

Alibaba’s latest results point to a transition phase. As its e-commerce engine faces pressure, the company is increasingly positioning itself around AI and cloud to support future growth.

Source: Reuters

Alibaba Introduced Its New AI Platform, Wukong

Alibaba

Alibaba announced Wukong, its new platform aimed at placing artificial intelligence directly at the center of corporate business processes and operations.

According to Alibaba’s statement, the platform, which is currently in an invitation-only testing phase, will be available as a standalone application and will later be integrated into Ali baba’s corporate communication and collaboration app, DingTalk. According to Reuters, DingTalk currently serves more than 20 million organizational users and a total of 800 million users.

Wukong Is Not Just an Assistant That Produces Content

The key distinction highlighted by Ali baba is that Wukong is not merely an assistant that generates content. The company states that DingTalk’s infrastructure has been rewritten from the ground up, allowing AI agents to perform tasks directly across thousands of enterprise functions within the system, rather than imitating users through an interface. This structure targets use cases such as document editing, meeting note generation, research, spreadsheet updates, and managing task flows through a single screen.

AI Teams Are Being Gathered Under Alibaba Token Hub

The new platform is also part of Ali baba’s broader AI restructuring, which has accelerated in recent days. The company has begun bringing together Qwen, Wukong, and other artificial intelligence teams under a new umbrella called “Alibaba Token Hub.” The fact that CEO Eddie Wu has directly taken charge of this unit indicates that Alibaba now sees artificial intelligence not only as a product area, but as one of the main axes of growth.

Wukong’s launch comes right in the middle of the accelerating “AI agent” race in China and the global market. Ali baba made this move at a time when rivals such as ByteDance, Tencent, Baidu, and Zhipu are also developing similar enterprise agent systems. Baidu’s announcement this week of a new agent package capable of performing multi-step tasks also shows how intense the competition has become.

Wukong Supports Alibaba’s Claim of Becoming an AI-Powered Business Platform

Alibaba says Wukong was designed for enterprise use with features such as security, access control, and cost tracking. The company’s approach is to transform artificial intelligence from a personal productivity tool for employees into a manageable business layer within company budgets and audit processes. In this respect, Wukong is seen not only as a new product in the enterprise software market, but also as the most concrete step in Alibaba’s ambition to become an AI-powered business platform.