Why the City Brain Is the Next Internet Infrastructure – Insights from Alibaba’s Wang Jian

Alibaba’s Wang Jian, the architect behind Alibaba Cloud, has spent the past two years focused on building the "City Brain". The ET City Brain platform was recently named one of the first national AI open‑innovation platforms.

Wang describes the city as humanity’s greatest invention, but notes that rapid population growth, expanding urban areas, and changing lifestyles have made cities increasingly complex, demanding new solutions beyond traditional infrastructure.

He likens the City Brain to the electric grid: just as the light bulb alone was useless without a power network, the City Brain will serve as the critical infrastructure that enables intelligent services across the urban environment.

According to Wang, three key elements now make the City Brain feasible: the internet, data, and cloud computing. These technologies together form the foundation for both the City Brain and current AI applications.

He emphasizes that AI, blockchain, and other emerging technologies are integral parts of the City Brain. Wang prefers the term "Machine Intelligence" over "Artificial Intelligence" because modern machines can now perform tasks beyond human capability, especially when combined with abundant internet connectivity and data.

Wang states, "The City Brain tells us that problems humans cannot solve can be addressed by machines." In Hangzhou, the first city to adopt the City Brain, machine intelligence has increased police coverage and noticeably improved traffic flow, not by replacing humans but by handling tasks that would otherwise require many people.

Blockchain plays a crucial role in ensuring data integrity for the City Brain. Since city data originates from numerous facilities—such as passenger counts at stations—protecting this data from tampering is essential for reliable operation.

He also discusses broader topics:

Q: How do traditional companies differ from internet companies?

Internet companies treat the internet as foundational infrastructure, enabling new business models and opportunities that were impossible before.

Q: Why does Wang avoid the term "Artificial Intelligence"?

He argues that "Machine Intelligence" better reflects the shift from machines mimicking human tasks to performing tasks humans cannot accomplish.

Q: What is the impact of blockchain beyond finance?

Blockchain can reshape entire value systems by providing trustworthy data exchange, not just enabling payments.

Q: How mature are cloud computing standards?

Wang believes that while cloud computing is still in its early stages, it will eventually become as invisible as electricity, with usage measured by compute capacity rather than the cloud itself.

Q: What is the significance of quantum computing?

Quantum computing could dramatically increase computational power, potentially redefining the limits of cloud services.

Q: How does the City Brain address urban challenges?

The City Brain optimizes city operations by leveraging data—such as carbon emissions—to act as a "power grid" for urban services, representing the most complex AI problem to date.

Overall, Wang envisions the City Brain as a transformative infrastructure that will enable smarter, more efficient cities and open unprecedented opportunities for innovation.