Alibaba’s Jack Ma Wants AI to Serve, Not Lord Over, Humans

Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, a longstanding advocate for artificial intelligence, warned that AI shouldn’t replace humans but work instead to meet their every need.

The Chinese billionaire, who once likened AI to love, argued that the technology should be tailored to serve people and make their lives better. It should protect livelihoods, Ma told Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. employees during a rare appearance Thursday.

“We’re not trying to make machines more like humans. We’re trying to make them understand humans, to think like us and do things we can’t,” Ma said in brief remarks before staff at their Hangzhou ...