Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is sending an unusually strong signal to investors at a critical moment for its artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions. Co-founder Jack Ma has reportedly purchased more than HK$600 million, or roughly $76.5 million, of Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares in recent days, joining Chairman Joe Tsai and CEO Eddie Wu in buying the stock.
The timing of Ma’s purchase is particularly notable. Alibaba recently announced an HK$80 billion ($10.2 billion) share placement, with proceeds earmarked for expanding its full-stack AI capabilities, including infrastructure, chips, and AI models. The capital raise triggered a sell-off as investors worried about dilution, elevated spending, and whether Alibaba can generate sufficient returns from its massive AI investments.