Amazon(US:AMZN) Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-07-23 07:52Core Viewpoint - Amazon Web Services (AWS) has reportedly disbanded its Shanghai AI Research Institute due to strategic adjustments between the US and China, marking the end of its last overseas research center [1][4]. Group 1: Company Actions - The disbandment was confirmed by a post from the chief application scientist, Wang Minjie, who noted the decision was influenced by strategic changes [1]. - AWS had over 1,000 employees at its peak in China, although the exact number affected by this disbandment remains unclear [1]. - Amazon's spokesperson stated that the decision to streamline certain teams was difficult but necessary for continued investment and resource optimization [4]. Group 2: Research Institute Background - The Shanghai AI Research Institute was established on September 17, 2018, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and was part of AWS's machine learning division [5]. - The institute focused on developing open-source projects, particularly the popular Deep Graph Library (DGL), and engaged in foundational research in graph neural networks (GNNs) [5]. - Zhang Zheng, a professor from NYU Shanghai, was the first director of the institute and has extensive experience in distributed computing and machine learning [5]. Group 3: Broader Industry Context - Reports indicated that Amazon is cutting hundreds of jobs within its cloud computing division, which is part of a broader trend among tech giants like IBM and Microsoft adjusting their R&D operations in China [6][7]. - AWS has faced challenges, with its revenue growth slowing for three consecutive quarters, reporting a 17% year-over-year increase to $29.27 billion, which is below expectations and lower than competitors like Microsoft and Google [6].