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Jack Ma - Alibaba Group founder and executive chairman (Alizila)
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Credit: Supplied
Artificial intelligence Alibaba has already used its artificial intelligence, deep learning and data analytics technology for many of its own platforms and businesses, including Taobao/Tmall, Ali Xiaomi and Ant Financial. But in October last year, the company partnered up with the Hangzhou government to create the ‘Hangzhou City Brain’ project, aimed at using AI to create a computerised, automated public-services infrastructure for the city.
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Quantum computing and communications In 2015, Alibaba’s cloud computing subsidiary, Aliyun, struck a deal to establish the Chinese Academy of Sciences – Alibaba Quantum Computing Laboratory. Come 2017, cloud-based quantum cryptographic data-transfer services have been made available on Alibaba Cloud.
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Virtual reality and augmented reality In November last year, Alibaba launched a full virtual reality (VR) shopping experience, dubbed Buy+, which sees online shoppers’ entire transaction completed within a VR environment. Meanwhile, the company has reportedly led an $18 million Series B funding round for augmented reality navigation start-up, WayRay.
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Credit: Dreamstime
Biometric recognition Alibaba’s Alipay platform has the capability to enable facial-recognition payment. Additionally, the company is using biometric identification technology to recognise palm prints, handwriting, eye patterns and irises.
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Credit: Dreamstime
Database systems OceanBase, a database system developed by Alibaba Group and Ant Financial, is the first applied large-scale financial database system in China, according to the company’s corporate news service, Alizila.
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Geolocation technology The technology behind the Qianxun Positioning Network – a joint venture between Alibaba and the state-owned China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco Group) – leverages the BeiDou satellite navigation system to achieve positioning accuracy of up to one millimetre.
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Mobile operating systems Alibaba’s cloud business, Aliyun, developed the YunOS mobile operating system, releasing it in 2011. Since then, the operating system – based on the Android Open Source Project – has claimed a big hold in the Chinese market. According to Alizila, it is now the world’s third-largest mobile operating system.
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Blockchain Ant Financial, previously known as Alipay, has made a start at deploying blockchain, the distributed database technology behind digital currencies such as the increasingly ubiquitous bitcoin, for charitable donations.
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Smart logistics Given that Alibaba is, first and foremost, an e-commerce company, it comes as no surprise that the organisation has invested heavily in its logistics capabilities over the years. As a result, Alibaba’s smart logistics technology includes an intelligent warehouse system and the development of last-mile delivery robots.
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Cloud computing Expect to see greater cloud capabilities come down the line. Alibaba is working on a super computational engine developed by its cloud business that is expected to enable clients with greater computing capabilities.
The roadmap to a low carbon future in technology The IT sector accounts for 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions1. This will rise as data and new technologies increasingly play a central role in shaping organisational operations. As enterprises and governments introduce net zero or decarbonisation targets, IT operations will need to better understand their emissions and how they can be reduced without negatively impacting technology or business operations. SustainTech will bridge the gap between ambition and tangible action, promoting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies that attendees can use in their day-to-day operations within their business.
