Alibaba has formed an internal robotics team as it moves deeper into AI-powered physical products.

The group sits within Qwen, Alibaba’s AI unit based in Hangzhou, and focuses on developing robotics and embodied AI, according to Qwen technology lead Justin Lin.

Lin said the team is exploring how multimodal AI models, which handle inputs like text, sound, and images, can be used in real-world robotics.

Tech companies worldwide are investing in smart robotics, with Alibaba’s recent activities including leading a US$140 million funding round in Chinese robotics startup X Square Robot.

Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu recently estimated global AI investment could reach US$4 trillion over the next five years.

Other tech giants, including Nvidia and SoftBank, have also made major moves in robotics, signaling rising competition in the sector.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

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