- Company calls reports that Zhou Jingren submitted resignation “false information” and urges public not to spread rumors
- Move follows reorganization of core AI units under CEO-led Token Foundry
Alibaba Group has denied online reports that its chief scientist Zhou Jingren (周靖人) has submitted a resignation, calling the claims “purely false information.”
The tech titan added that “in recent days some people have organized and spread this rumor online,” while urging the public not to circulate unverified content.
The statement comes after a wave of speculation around Zhou’s role following a major internal restructuring.
Changing of guard
On June 8, Alibaba merged its Tongyi large language model division and Future Life Lab to form a new Token Foundry unit, placed under direct supervision of CEO Eddie Wu.
As part of the changes, Zhou was appointed Alibaba’s chief scientist and tasked with leading the newly established AI Future Institute, which the company said will focus on frontier AI research and breakthroughs.
Despite Alibaba’s denial of the resignation rumor, Zhou’s position adjustment has drawn mixed interpretations.
‘Promotion only in title’
Some observers argue that with core AI model developers now shifted into the CEO-led Token Foundry unit, his responsibilities have moved away from business execution toward a more research-oriented role.
Some analysts describe it as a “promotion in title but a downgrade in influence,” which prompted Zhou’s rumored resignation.
Alibaba, however, countered this claim, saying the chief scientist role represents the highest academic title within its technical system.
Additionally, this new appointment is intended to strengthen Zhou’s ability to drive long-term AI research and exploration at the frontier of the field, the tech heavyweight added.
