TLDR
- Alibaba establishes a Foundation Model Task Force to accelerate AI initiatives following Lin Junyang’s departure from the Qwen division.
- CEO Eddie Wu, Group CTO Wu Zeming, and Alibaba Cloud CTO Zhou Jingren will helm the new task force.
- Three senior Qwen executives have departed Alibaba during 2025, with Lin being the most recent.
- Tongyi Laboratory will remain under Zhou Jingren’s leadership alongside his new task force duties.
- The company plans to expand AI research funding and recruit additional top-tier talent.
Alibaba has moved decisively to address recent changes in its AI division leadership by establishing a high-level task force. In a memo distributed to Tongyi Laboratory staff — the division responsible for Qwen AI models — CEO Eddie Wu outlined the new initiative and reinforced the company’s commitment to foundation model advancement.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited, BABA
Lin Junyang shared news of his departure through X, receiving supportive messages from the AI community, including Chinese AI startup MiniMax. Wu acknowledged Lin’s valuable work in his internal communication.
With Lin’s exit, three senior executives from the Qwen division have now departed during 2025, prompting questions about the team’s leadership stability at one of China’s premier AI operations.
The task force brings Alibaba’s highest-ranking technology executives into direct oversight of AI model development. The trio of Wu, Wu Zeming, and Zhou Jingren will coordinate resources throughout the organization.
Wu’s memo characterized foundation model advancement as a “core strategic priority” for Alibaba’s long-term direction.
The company intends to maintain its open-source model approach while expanding its AI research and development budget.
Recruiting exceptional talent has become a key focus. The internal communication emphasized faster hiring of industry-leading professionals as part of the strategic initiative.
Leadership Continuity at Tongyi Lab
Zhou Jingren maintains his position at the helm of Tongyi Laboratory, the research division within Alibaba Cloud responsible for developing Qwen models. He will oversee current projects while simultaneously fulfilling his task force obligations.
The Qwen model lineup represents one of Alibaba’s premier AI offerings, earning recognition in the open-source space for strong performance and widespread availability.
Zhou’s continued presence ensures operational stability at the research level despite the recent leadership transitions occurring above.
Alibaba Doubles Down on AI Investment
The task force creation comes with a broader pledge to increase financial and human resources dedicated to AI. While Alibaba withheld specific investment figures, the memo’s language conveyed clear intent about expansion.
Wu’s communication to employees stated the company will “further scale up investment in AI research and development.”
While Lin’s resignation triggered the response, the organizational framework Alibaba has implemented indicates long-term strategic planning. Placing the CEO alongside two CTOs in direct coordination over foundation models represents an uncommon organizational approach.
The memo initially reached Tongyi Laboratory personnel before Alibaba released it publicly.
Alibaba Cloud CTO Zhou Jingren now manages dual responsibilities — overseeing Tongyi Lab operations while serving on the newly created task force with Alibaba’s senior leadership.
The company acknowledged Lin’s resignation in the internal letter and confirmed acceptance of his decision.
