Alibaba’s AI expert and cloud computing head Jia Yangqing quits for new start-up amid ChatGPT frenzy
- The well-known AI researcher, who previously worked for Facebook and Google, said he is pursuing ‘the next challenge’ of his professional career
- Jia is joining a new start-up focusing on AI infrastructure, according to a local Chinese media report
Jia Yangqing, vice-president of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, has resigned from the company, reportedly to start his own artificial intelligence (AI) venture.
Jia, who led the computing platform department of Alibaba’s cloud computing services business, said in a personal WeChat post on Tuesday, seen by the South China Morning Post, that he is “headed for the next challenge” of his career, without elaborating on what his next move will be.
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Jia also said the best part of his time at Alibaba was realising the “special contributions that cloud computing brings to society”.
Jia will be joining a new start-up, with a focus on AI infrastructure, that has received the interest of several investors, according to a report by Chinese media outlet QbitAI on Tuesday.
Neither Jia nor Alibaba, owner of the Post, immediately responded to a request for comment.