Midea Group Co.,Ltd. (SZSE: 000333) and Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement, the companies announced today.

The partnership aims to leverage each company's core strengths to jointly explore next-generation business models centered on "whole-home intelligence + AI large models + commercial ecosystems," with the goal of enhancing user experience and creating new commercial value.

Senior executives from both companies, including Midea's Chairman and President Fang Hongbo, and Alibaba Group CEO Eddie Yongming Wu, were present to witness the signing ceremony.

Core Focus of the Collaboration

The agreement marks a deepening of collaboration in key technological areas such as cloud infrastructure, computing power supply, advanced model capabilities, and data centers. This will support Midea's ongoing transformation into a global "AI+" technology group and its international business expansion.

Advancing Smart Home Technology

In the smart home sector, Midea has already developed an AI agent specifically for the home appliance industry. Building on this, the partnership will see Alibaba and Midea jointly develop an AI "brain" for home environments, utilizing the capabilities of Alibaba's Qianwen large model.

This initiative aims to enhance multi-modal perception and evolve whole-home intelligence from a "human-driven device" paradigm to an "intent-driven space." The companies will also explore integrated "appliance + service" experiences by combining services like instant retail, local lifestyle offerings, and smart mobility.

Joint Innovation in Computing Power

The alliance will foster joint innovation around high-performance computing. Alibaba Cloud will leverage its expertise in chips, computing power supply chains, and scheduling to provide stable, sustained computing power for training and optimizing Midea's whole-home AI brain, embodied intelligence, and industry-specific vertical models.

The collaboration will also strengthen cooperation on AI Tokens to support Midea's ongoing access to advanced model capabilities.

Building Global Cloud Infrastructure

Utilizing Alibaba Cloud, the two firms plan to co-develop cloud infrastructure covering both domestic and international markets. This effort will focus on enhancing the stability and reliability of domestic cloud services while collaboratively advancing cloud resource deployment in key regions like Europe and Asia-Pacific to bolster Midea's global operations.

Exploring Future Organizational Development

Additionally, the partners will explore organizational development and talent cultivation strategies for the AI era.

A Long-Standing Partnership

The cooperation between Midea and Alibaba dates back to 2014 and has deepened over the past twelve years. In 2025, Midea utilized Alibaba Cloud's public cloud computing power to establish a digital foundation for its overseas operations in Singapore, strengthening the digital backbone of its globalization strategy.

The company has also been deepening its Generative AI transformation based on technologies like T-Head's Zhenwu AI chips and the Qianwen large model.