Alibaba A.I. Labs, MediaTek tie-up to provide smart IoT initiatives

Alibaba A.I. Labs, which leads the development of Alibaba's consumer artificial intelligent (AI) products, and MediaTek, a global fabless semiconductor company on Wednesday announced a strategic collaboration in Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives including smart home protocols, customized IoT chips and AI smart hardware, with the aim of fostering the development of a connected world in the IoT era.

The two parties also announced the first Smartmesh connectivity solution in China that supports the latest many-to-many Bluetooth mesh technology, in an effort to speed up the adoption of this technology in smart home settings.

The solution, which is based on the Labs' self-developed IoT protocol named IoTConnect and the Bluetooth chip co-developed by both parties, enables smart home devices to automatically pair with Tmall Genie, the Lab's first voice-controlled smart assistant, leading up to a Tmall Genie-controlled smart home ecosystem.

"We are excited about partnering with MediaTek to explore collaboration in the IoT ecosystem. Our AI and cloud computing capabilities, along with MediaTek's cutting-edge technology in chip design, provide unique advantages to our connectivity solutions for smart homes, offering real benefits to consumers in China and paving the way to a more connected world through innovation," said head of Alibaba A.I. Labs, Miffy Chan.