Alibaba’s Qwen AI chief Lin Junyang has resigned just days after a major product update, even as the app’s global user base surges past 200 million.
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| Qwen’s monthly active users jumped to 203 million in February, ranking it third globally behind ChatGPT and Doubao, days before its division head announced his departure. Image: CH |
HANGZHOU, China — March 4, 2026:
The head of Alibaba Group’s Qwen artificial intelligence division has stepped down just days after the company unveiled updated products, in a surprise leadership move that comes amid surging user growth and intensifying competition in China’s AI sector.
Lin Junyang, who led the Qwen large language model initiative, announced his resignation Wednesday in a brief post on X. “Bye my beloved Qwen,” he wrote, without elaborating on the reasons for his departure.
Neither Lin nor Alibaba immediately responded to requests for comment.
The timing of Lin’s exit is notable. It comes two days after Alibaba released updated Qwen products and as the AI assistant’s mobile app experiences explosive expansion.
According to data from AICPB.com, which tracks AI applications, Qwen’s monthly active users surged to 203 million in February from just 31.05 million in January — a more than sixfold increase in a single month. The app now ranks third globally, behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT and ByteDance’s Doubao.
The dramatic jump coincided with aggressive promotional campaigns by Chinese tech giants during the Lunar New Year holiday period, a peak season for app downloads and digital engagement in China.
Lin’s departure raises questions about internal strategy at Alibaba as it competes in a crowded and politically sensitive AI landscape.
China’s leading technology firms have been racing to expand their generative AI capabilities following the global success of ChatGPT. Companies are pouring investment into model training, cloud infrastructure, and consumer-facing applications in an effort to secure market share at home while navigating regulatory oversight.
For Alibaba, Qwen represents a cornerstone of its broader AI and cloud ambitions. The Hangzhou-based company has positioned the model not only as a consumer chatbot but also as a platform for enterprise services, embedding it into e-commerce, productivity tools, and cloud offerings.
Leadership stability is often viewed as critical in such high-stakes AI initiatives, particularly as firms iterate rapidly on models and monetize growing user bases. A sudden executive exit during a period of breakout growth could signal internal restructuring, strategic disagreements, or simply the end of a product development cycle — though no explanation has been provided.
The spike in Qwen’s user base reflects a broader competitive push across China’s internet sector. During the Lunar New Year period, companies rolled out incentives, marketing campaigns, and feature upgrades aimed at capturing users’ attention while mobile engagement was elevated.
Such campaigns can drive short-term surges, but sustaining engagement remains a challenge in the increasingly saturated AI assistant market. User retention, monetization pathways, and regulatory compliance will likely shape the next phase of competition.
Lin’s succinct farewell leaves open key questions about succession and strategic direction within the Qwen unit. Investors and industry observers will be watching closely to see whether Alibaba signals continuity, deeper restructuring, or an accelerated AI roadmap.
For now, the juxtaposition is striking: a record-setting surge in global users, a high-profile product refresh — and the quiet exit of the executive who helped steer the division to that milestone.
In China’s fast-moving AI race, leadership changes can be as consequential as technological breakthroughs.