Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai credits China’s AI edge to power grid, open-source models

SCMP Tech / 3/22/2026

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Key Points

  • Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai credits China’s AI edge to a combination of power-grid investment and a robust open-source model ecosystem that enables rapid AI deployment.
  • He argues that investing in power infrastructure and industrial depth creates practical conditions for scalable AI across multiple sectors.
  • Tsai emphasizes open-source AI models as a core factor in accelerating innovation and wider AI experimentation within China.
  • The remarks frame China’s AI trajectory as leveraging energy and industrial networks to unlock nationwide AI applications rather than relying solely on proprietary tech.
China’s artificial intelligence breakthroughs in recent years stemmed from the country’s strategic strengthening of its power grid, commitment to open-source models and complete manufacturing supply chain, according to Joe Tsai, chairman of Alibaba Group Holding. “Currently, geopolitical complexities are deeply affecting supply chain security and the sharing of technological achievements,” Tsai said in a speech on Sunday at the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing. “In this era and...

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