Alibaba Expands Global Cloud, AI Footprint

Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing and AI division of Alibaba Group, has opened its third data center in Malaysia and plans to launch a second one in the Philippines by October. CEO Eddie Wu has highlighted globalization as a long-term priority, with the company committing over $52 billion to cloud and AI infrastructure investments over the next three years. Alibaba’s strategy includes targeting regions in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, and recently establishing an AI hub in Singapore. The company is also expanding the reach of its Qwen AI models internationally. These efforts are in response to increased domestic competition and geopolitical pressures, aiming to strengthen Alibaba’s presence in Southeast Asia and other global markets. The new data centers are designed to meet growing demand for secure, scalable cloud services and reinforce Alibaba's position in the global cloud and AI sectors.