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Nectar Gan

The future of the internet age will be a world of technology and data sharing, the founder of a Chinese internet giant said on Friday.
Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, which owns the South China Morning Post, said that now, more than 20 years into the internet age, the global online landscape had largely been formed.
The main task for the next three decades would be to apply internet technologies in every aspect of society, Ma said, addressing the Post’s annual China ­Conference.
“Ten years ago, internet companies were taking turns to take dominance of the industry … and not a single company could survive for a long time amid all the changes,” he said.
“But now, the make-up of the world’s major internet companies has basically settled. It is quite difficult to bring them all down ­together.”
Remember Tom Cruise in Minority Report? Jack Ma urges China to use data to fight crime
Ma, who founded Alibaba 17 years ago, said that to continue to do well down the track, internet giants should popularise their technologies, resources and strengths to benefit the public.


He said the future of globalisation was the sharing of markets and technologies, instead of the old model of relying on control of capital to secure market share, ­labour and resources.
Information technology aims to control, while data technology aims to share
Jack Ma, Alibaba Group
“The biggest difference between the new century and the old lies in the difference between the eras of information technology and data technology. Information technology aims to control, while data technology aims to share,” he said.
But many overseas companies have been wary of sharing data or technology with China due to its lax intellectual property protection and enforcement.
The country’s new cybersecurity law has also raised concerns among overseas businesspeople about threats to intellectual property and security.
The law demands foreign firms in critical sectors undergo “security reviews” and store business data within China’s borders.
Alibaba founder Jack Ma delivers keynote speech at China Conference
Addressing the conference, Ma said the digital revolution would free the human brain and lead to the use of technology and data to solve problems.
He expected the next three decades to be a “very painful” time for humanity, because the machines invented by humans would “for sure” outsmart humans.
In terms of memory, the computer never forgets; in terms of stamina, a computer will work as long as the electricity is plugged in
Jack Ma, Alibaba Group
“In terms of memory, the computer never forgets; in terms of stamina, a computer will work as long as the electricity is plugged in; it doesn’t have bad moods either and will forever work for you,” he said.
But Ma said he was confident that people could eventually find a solution and overcome the ­challenges.
Ma also said Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” trade initiative was China’s contribution and responsibility to the world as its second-largest economy.
He rejected criticism that the initiative was intended to transfer China’s excess industrial capacity offshore.
“I believe that the ‘One Belt One Road’ ... will create jobs for ­local people, do things they can’t do for themselves, and contribute to their economic prosperity,” he said.


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China Conference: Hong Kong

Alibaba’s Jack Ma sees dawn of data-sharing era in global internet age

Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, attends the SCMP China Conference in Admiralty on Friday. Photo: Nora Tam

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