*The article was updated on July 3, 2025 to include Alibaba’s latest gastric cancer detection tool GRAPE.

As the world faces mounting challenges—from climate change and healthcare crises to food security and social inequality–artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force capable of driving meaningful change. Alibaba Cloud, a global leader in cloud computing and AI innovation, is at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge technology to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, from revolutionizing healthcare and agriculture to advancing renewable energy and education. Alibaba Cloud remains steadfast in its commitment to leveraging AI for social good, pushing the boundaries of what is possible to address some of humanity’s most pressing needs.

“Our mission at Alibaba is not only to explore the frontiers of AI but to ensure its capabilities are harnessed for the greater good. As we navigate the complex challenges of 2025, from intensifying climate risks to the growing demand for equitable access to healthcare and education, we are dedicated to leveraging AI to drive meaningful societal changes. By setting a benchmark for how AI can be a transformative force for positive change, we hope to work with different parties to create a more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive future, ” said Jingren Zhou, Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Cloud.

From mitigating climate risks to revolutionizing healthcare, agriculture, and education, these efforts highlight the pivotal role AI can play in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. Here is a look at how Alibaba’s key AI-driven initiatives are making a difference:

1. Enhancing Weather Forecasting and Optimizing Energy Production

In an era of intensifying climate threats, extreme weather events such as devastating floods in Spain, landslides in Nepal, and tropical storms affecting millions in the Philippines disrupt lives and economies worldwide. To combat this, Alibaba developed Baguan, an advanced AI-powered weather forecasting model designed to deliver accurate predictions.

Baguan offers hyper-accurate hourly updates with a spatial resolution of one-kilometer grids, delivering forecasts up to 10 days in advance. Its precision is particularly impactful in renewable energy sectors, where reliable weather forecasts are critical for optimizing energy production and improving power grid management. By contributing to stable and efficient energy distribution, Baguan not only reduces costs but also mitigates environmental impact.

2.  Revolutionizing Cancer Diagnosis with AI-powered Tools

Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading global health challenge, ranking fifth in cancer incidence and fourth in cancer-related deaths. Early detection dramatically improves survival rates, yet screening remains limited, especially in developing countries.

To tackle this issue, Alibaba’s DAMO Academy developed GRAPE  (Gastric Cancer Risk Assessment Procedure with Artificial Intelligence), a deep-learning framework that analyzes 3D non-contrast CT scans to detect and segment gastric cancer. Recent research demonstrates that GRAPE significantly outperforms radiologists in accuracy, increasing sensitivity by 21.8% and specificity by 14.0%, particularly for early-stage GC detection. Notably, GRAPE also identifies cases initially missed by human experts.

DAMO Academy plans to collaborate with Zhejiang Cancer Hospital to deploy GRAPE for widespread GC screening across Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.

Alibaba has been revolutionizing various types of cancer diagnosis with AI technologies. Last year, Alibaba received recognition this year on Fortune’s Change the World list for its groundbreaking AI tool, PANDA. PANDA is designed to detect early signs of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and significantly enhances early detection of PDA by identifying abnormalities with 34.1% greater accuracy than radiologists. Deployed in two hospitals in Zhejiang province, the tool has expanded its applications to include liver, esophageal, and colon tumors.

Innovation such as GRAPE and PANDA in reducing diagnostic costs and accelerates early detection of cancer diseases, underscoring the potential of AI in tackling global challenges including advancing medical diagnosis. By making cancer screening faster, more accurate, and cost-effective, Alibaba aims to democratize access to life-saving medical diagnostics.

3.  Accelerating Smart Crop Breeding

With the global population on the rise, ensuring food security is more critical than ever. In collaboration with Zhejiang University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Alibaba has pioneered research that utilizes AI to accelerate crop improvement.

Published in Cell Research, a prestigious journal under the Nature portfolio, Alibaba’s groundbreaking study utilizes DNA methylation data to accelerate breeding techniques.

By analyzing over 287 million single methylation polymorphisms (SMPs)—the largest dataset of its kind– researchers identified 43 genes related to fiber development. These insights pave the way for smarter, more sustainable agricultural practices that can meet the world’s growing food demands.

4.  Breaking Ground in RNA Virus Discovery

RNA viruses pose significant public health challenges, causing diseases ranging from the common cold to deadly pandemics. To address this, Alibaba Cloud co-authored a groundbreaking study published in Cell. The research introduced LucaProt, an AI-powered deep-learning algorithm designed to detect RNA viruses, which are responsible for numerous diseases and pose significant public health challenges.

By analyzing protein sequences and structural features, LucaProt has enabled the discovery of 160,000 potential RNA virus species and 180 RNA virus supergroups—the largest virus dataset of its kind. By analyzing protein sequences and structural features, this advancement not only deepens our understanding of viral evolution but also equips healthcare professionals with powerful tools for combating infectious diseases.

5.  Empowering Chidren with Autism Through Persnalized Picture Books

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in 100 children globally are affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To support these children and their families, Alibaba has developed an AI-powered tool to create personalized picture books tailored to individual needs.

Harnessing the multimodal large language models(LLMs) developed by Alibaba Cloud and ModelScope Agent framework, the tool transforms simple plot summaries into engaging picture books with vivid graphics, audio narration, and text. In addition, Alibaba Cloud leveraged its multi-agent to orchestrate these LLMs and AI tools to perform tasks autonomously with minimal human intervention.

Since its launch in June, the tool has been used nearly 200,000 times, providing a creative platform for children with ASD platform to express themselves and interact with the world. This innovation empowers tens of thousands of families and educators in China with accessible, tailored learning resources.