未可知人工智能研究院·2026-01-12 05:02Core Viewpoint - Alibaba is strategically focusing on both instant retail and AI, aiming to establish a strong user mindset and market position in the evolving landscape of consumer services [1][12][68]. Group 1: Market Positioning - Alibaba plans to invest heavily in instant retail, targeting to become the leader in this sector by 2026, indicating a rare assertive stance [1][12]. - The primary competition is not with Meituan or ByteDance, but rather in capturing user attention and decision-making processes [6][8]. - The instant retail market is projected to exceed 1 trillion by 2026 and reach 2 trillion by 2030, highlighting the significant growth potential [13]. Group 2: Strategic Resource Allocation - Alibaba's strategy involves concentrating resources on key areas during critical market phases, with over hundreds of billions allocated to instant retail in 2025 [19][20]. - The company is currently in a pivotal phase where its market share in instant retail has reached 42%, narrowing the gap with the leader [20][21]. - By focusing on instant retail, Alibaba aims to leverage this sector to enhance its overall local service ecosystem [23]. Group 3: Dual Focus on AI and Instant Retail - The simultaneous investment in AI is not a distraction but a strategic combination of short-term and long-term initiatives [30][41]. - AI is seen as a tool to reconstruct the consumer decision-making process, potentially increasing efficiency significantly [35][36]. - The integration of AI into various service scenarios aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem that connects shopping, delivery, and local services [40][62]. Group 4: Long-term Vision and Strategy - Alibaba's approach is to maintain a balance between immediate market needs and future technological advancements, avoiding a binary choice between focusing solely on instant retail or AI [45][68]. - The company is adopting a "rural encirclement of cities" strategy, starting with AI tools to capture users and gradually expanding into broader service areas [63]. - The success of Alibaba's strategy will be evident by 2026, depending on its ability to lead in instant retail and establish a strong user base for its AI initiatives [70].