Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has received recognition as a pioneer in The Forrester Wave™: Public Cloud Platforms Q4 2024 report. This prestigious acknowledgment underscores Alibaba Cloud’s extensive cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, significant global presence, and a wide array of products and services tailored for a diverse global customer base. Notably, this is the first time Alibaba Cloud has been recognized as a pioneer among other major public cloud platform providers in this influential report.
Forrester’s Evaluation Criteria
Scores and Criteria
The Forrester report meticulously assessed nine major global vendors, and Alibaba Cloud was classified as one of the four pioneers. The evaluation criteria spanned 30 distinct aspects, examining strengths in current offerings, strategic vision, and market presence. Alibaba Cloud was particularly commended for its innovative AI models, the variety of foundational models offered, and its unique model-as-a-service (MaaS) innovation. It received the second highest scores in both the current offering and strategy categories, highlighting its robust infrastructure and substantial potential for AI development.
Alibaba Cloud’s core infrastructure and MaaS capabilities enable it to function as a significant repository for AI models, particularly within China. This strategic strength allows it to provide a broad spectrum of AI services, reinforcing its position as a leader in AI innovation and deployment. Moreover, the emphasis on AI was comprehensive, focusing not only on the variety and quality of models but also on making these technologies accessible and scalable for enterprises worldwide.
Performance Highlights
Among the multiple criteria assessed, Alibaba Cloud achieved the highest possible score (5.0 out of 5.0) in 17 areas, including database services, data integration and governance, as well as container and Kubernetes services. The performant serverless functions-as-a-service (FaaS), compute capabilities, Internet of Things (IoT), storage, and AI development services further demonstrate the platform’s versatility. Such high scores reinforce the assertion that Alibaba Cloud possesses the necessary tools and infrastructure to support complex data operations and integrations, making it a viable choice for enterprises looking for scalable and reliable cloud solutions.
The Forrester report also highlights Alibaba Cloud’s suitability for Chinese enterprises or international corporations requiring expansive cloud capabilities across the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Its ability to provide localized services coupled with global reach showcases its flexibility and commitment to meeting the diverse needs of businesses operating in various regions.
Alibaba Cloud’s Technological Advancements
Expanding Serverless Technology
Alibaba Cloud has advanced its serverless technology beyond AI, offering a comprehensive cloud-native infrastructure accessible to both developers and operators, particularly in the fields of data and analytics. This advancement ensures that businesses can leverage powerful computing resources without the overhead traditionally associated with server management. The move towards serverless technology is aimed at simplifying the development process, reducing costs, and enabling faster deployment of applications and services.
Serverless technology, by its nature, shifts the burden of infrastructure management from the user to the cloud provider. This allows developers to focus more on coding and less on maintaining the underlying systems. Alibaba Cloud’s serverless offerings provide an environment where applications can scale automatically in response to demand, further enhancing operational efficiency. This not only optimizes resource utilization but also ensures that applications remain responsive under varying load conditions.
Apsara Conference Announcements
Responding to increasing demands for robust AI computing, Alibaba Cloud unveiled a full-stack infrastructure overhaul at the Apsara Conference 2024. This was coupled with the introduction of over 100 large language models under the Qwen 2.5 series, aimed at bolstering global AI innovation. Since its initial launch in April 2023, the Qwen large language model has recorded over 40 million downloads on platforms like Hugging Face and ModelScope, leading to more than 78,000 derivative models. These statistics underscore the widespread acceptance and utility of Alibaba Cloud’s AI models across various developmental and operational arenas.
By catering to the open-source community, Alibaba Cloud facilitates collaboration and innovation. The extensive engagement with the global developer community through these platforms showcases its commitment to fostering an ecosystem where ideas can flourish and transform into practical applications. The emphasis on open source not only drives technological advancement but also democratizes access to cutting-edge AI models, empowering developers worldwide to build and experiment without significant financial constraints.
Commitment to Global Expansion
ModelScope and AI Model Community
As a proponent of the MaaS concept and open-source principles, Alibaba Cloud established ModelScope, which has become China’s largest AI model community. Housing over 10,000 models and engaging more than 8 million developers, ModelScope serves as a crucial resource for AI enthusiasts and professionals alike. The platform encourages the sharing and enhancement of AI models, promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
ModelScope’s extensive repository allows developers to access, modify, and deploy a wide range of AI models tailored to various applications. This initiative aligns with Alibaba Cloud’s broader goal of making AI technology more accessible and practical for real-world use. By nurturing a vibrant community around its AI offerings, Alibaba Cloud ensures that its innovative tools and technologies are continuously refined and optimized based on user feedback and collaboration.
Data Centers and Infrastructure
Alibaba Cloud, the core digital technology and intelligence arm of the Alibaba Group, has been honored as a pioneer in The Forrester Wave™: Public Cloud Platforms Q4 2024 report. This distinguished recognition highlights Alibaba Cloud’s vast capabilities in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), its significant international presence, and its broad range of products and services designed for a varied global clientele. This marks the first instance that Alibaba Cloud has been acknowledged as a pioneer among other leading public cloud platform providers in this highly regarded report.
This achievement is a testament to Alibaba Cloud’s commitment to innovation and excellence, reflecting their substantial investments in advancing cloud technology. Alibaba Cloud continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cloud computing, delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses around the globe. Their extensive suite of services, which includes data storage, machine learning, and advanced analytics, ensures that they remain at the forefront of the industry, providing unparalleled value to their customers.
