Driving the future: How China is advancing AI through pioneers like Alibaba and iFlytek

I recently participated in the Global South Media Workshop that was held in the People’s Republic of China (Beijing and Xizang Autonomous region). The scale in which China has rolled AI is quite amazing.

In the age of global digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful catalyst reshaping industries, economies, and daily life. Around the world, nations are racing to develop AI capabilities that will define the next era of productivity and innovation. At the forefront of this transformation stands China not only as one of the largest markets for AI adoption but also as a dynamic force propelling AI research and industrial application to new heights.

I had the opportunity to visit two leading companies: Alibaba Group and iFlytek the both demonstrate how China’s AI ecosystem is being driven forward through technological breakthroughs, innovative applications, and a commitment to human-centered progress.

Alibaba: AI as the Backbone of Digital Economy

Founded in 1999 as an e-commerce platform, Alibaba has evolved into a global technology powerhouse whose influence extends far beyond online shopping. Today, AI is intertwined into every facet of Alibaba’s business from logistics to cloud computing, from smart cities to consumer experiences.

One of the clearest examples of Alibaba’s AI capabilities is City Brain, an intelligent urban management system that leverages big data, cloud computing, and AI algorithms to optimize city operations. Launched in Hangzhou in 2016, City Brain has since been deployed in dozens of cities across China and abroad. By analyzing massive streams of urban data in real-time such as traffic flow, emergency incidents, and infrastructure usage City Brain can reduce traffic congestion by automatically adjusting traffic lights, dispatching emergency services faster, and improving road safety.

The success story in Hangzhou is striking: reports show that City Brain helped cut traffic congestion by up to 15%, saving commuters time and improving air quality by reducing vehicle idling. Beyond traffic, City Brain is expanding its reach to environmental monitoring, energy management, and even pandemic response proving that AI can be a vital partner in building more livable, sustainable cities.

Another significant example is Alibaba Cloud, which powers a vast array of AI services for businesses and developers. In sectors like retail, Alibaba uses AI-driven analytics to predict consumer preferences, optimise supply chains, and personalize recommendations for millions of shoppers on its e-commerce platforms such as Taobao and Tmall (popularly known as Temu in South Africa.

Temu entered South Africa as a major digital media spender. Within weeks, it disrupted the auction environment by dominating Google and Meta ad placements. Temu also personalise recommendations in South Africa.

Moreover, Alibaba is also pioneering AI applications in natural language processing and computer vision. Its AI-powered customer service bots handle millions of enquiries daily, freeing up human agents to tackle more complex issues.

iFlytek: Giving Machines the Power of Voice and Understanding

While Alibaba excels in large-scale industrial AI, iFlytek has become a global leader in intelligent speech and language technology. iFlytek is renowned for its advanced speech recognition, machine translation, and voice interaction technologies making machines not only listen, but understand and respond naturally.

One of iFlytek’s landmark products is its AI-powered automatic speech recognition system, which supports dozens of languages and dialects including Swahili language. In a country as linguistically diverse as China, this technology plays a crucial role in bridging regional language barriers and enhancing accessibility. The AI-powered automatic speech recognition system has been rolled out to more than 70 countries worldwide.

iFlytek’s translation devices have gained widespread popularity among travelers, students, and business professionals. The company’s portable translators can instantly translate conversations into multiple languages with remarkable accuracy. In most of the hotels where I stayed in Beijing and Xizang I have seen these devices number of times and they were so useful to easy communication with the hotel staff that only spoke Mandarin.

Interestingly, education is another field where iFlytek’s AI is making a significant impact. Its intelligent learning platforms provide students with personalized tutoring and feedback, helping them identify knowledge gaps and learn more effectively. AI grading systems can evaluate handwritten essays and spoken responses, greatly easing the workload for teachers and ensuring more consistent assessments.

In the healthcare sector, iFlytek has applied its AI expertise to develop medical dictation and diagnostic assistance tools. Doctors can dictate medical notes in real-time, while AI algorithms transcribe and analyze the information to support more accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations.

A Shared Vision: Innovation for People-Centered Development

The advances of Alibaba and iFlytek are emblematic of China’s broader AI ambitions: to harness technological progress for real-world benefits. According to China’s national AI development plan, released in 2017, the country aims to become the world leader in AI by 2030. This plan emphasizes the integration of AI into manufacturing, healthcare, education, agriculture, and public services, while also calling for strong ethical guidelines and inclusive development.

Both companies align their innovation strategies with this vision. They invest heavily in Research and Development and talent development, collaborate with universities and research institutions, and participate in global academic communities.

At the same time, both Alibaba and iFlytek understand the importance of trust and responsibility in AI. They have launched initiatives to strengthen data security and privacy protection, ensuring that technological progress goes hand-in-hand with public confidence.

Looking Ahead: Global Influence and Local Impact

As AI continues to evolve, companies like Alibaba and iFlytek are not only advancing China’s domestic capabilities but also extending their impact globally. iFlytek’s translation technologies have become essential tools for international conferences and cross-border business.

At home, their innovations are helping millions of people experience the benefits of AI in everyday life from safer streets and smarter shopping to more equitable education and efficient healthcare services.

China is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI. As Alibaba and iFlytek demonstrate, the nation’s AI journey is not just about machines becoming smarter, it’s about using that intelligence to build a more connected, convenient, and inclusive society for all.

Key Lessons for South Africa

1. Clear National Strategy: China’s success stems partly from a clear, well-funded national AI plan.

2. Public-Private Partnerships: City Brain shows how urban challenges can be tackled through government-tech cooperation. South African cities can replicate this by working with local startups and established firms to build smart public infrastructure.

3. Data Ecosystems: China’s AI boom relies on data lots of it. South Africa must tackle data availability and governance challenges to fuel local AI development, balancing innovation with privacy.

4. Skills Development: China has invested heavily in AI research talent. South Africa’s schools and universities can expand AI education to build a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to create homegrown solutions.

5. Support for Startups: By nurturing local AI startups as China does with firms like iFlytek, South Africa can ensure that the benefits of AI reach beyond big business and urban centres

Themba Thobela is Acting Director International Media Engagement, GCIS

** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.

BUSINESS REPORT