Invezz·2026-03-20 07:55Core Insights - Alibaba has significantly reduced its workforce by approximately 34%, ending December with 128,197 employees compared to 194,320 a year earlier, as part of a restructuring to focus on artificial intelligence [1][3][4] Financial Performance - The latest earnings report revealed a 67% drop in profit and revenue that fell short of market expectations, leading to a 6% decline in shares listed in Hong Kong [2][5][6][7] Workforce Reduction - The workforce cuts are largely attributed to Alibaba's exit from offline retail businesses, including the sale of its stake in Sun Art Retail Group and the exit from Intime, which decreased the need for employees in physical retail operations [3][4] Strategic Shift - Alibaba is transitioning away from labor-intensive segments towards areas requiring less physical infrastructure, indicating a faster restructuring phase compared to previous adjustments [4][8] AI Focus - The company is intensifying its focus on artificial intelligence, aiming to build a full-stack AI ecosystem that includes semiconductor development, computing infrastructure, and AI models, with the recent launch of an AI service called Wukong for enterprise users [9][10] Cloud and AI Revenue Goals - Alibaba's leadership has set ambitious targets to grow its cloud and AI revenue to over $100 billion annually within the next five years, reflecting a long-term shift towards high-margin technology services [11][12]