Alibaba AI Overhaul: New Token Unit & Research Institute

Alibaba has announced a major upgrade to its AI business structure. The company is merging its Tongyi Large Model Business Unit and Future Life Lab. It is also establishing a new Token Foundry Business Unit, which will report directly to Group CEO Wu Yongming. Alibaba partner Zhou Jingren has been named Chief Scientist and will lead the new Alibaba AI Future Research Institute. This institute will focus on cutting-edge AI technologies. Zheng Bo will lead the Happy Horse and Happy Oyster teams into the new Token Foundry Business Unit. These changes show Alibaba's continued investment in its AI strategy. The Qwen-3.7 model now ranks among the top three globally for coding capabilities. Alibaba's AI business has moved past its initial investment phase and is now entering a period of commercial return. This matters because it signals a strategic shift and potential growth in the AI sector.