Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has resurfaced in China months after dropping off the radar amid the country’s crackdown on tech companies.
Ma disappeared in late 2020 after criticism of China’s regulatory views. Despite being China’s most high-profile entrepreneur, the executive was not seen for months. When he did resurface, it was only for a brief appearance in rural China as part of his philanthropic work.
According to South China Morning Post, Ma has resurfaced in China to discuss the impact of AI on education. The executive’s visit to China, after almost a year overseas, took him to the Yungu School in Hangzhou, which was founded in 2017 by Alibaba’s founders.
Ma’s appearance is being taken by some as an indication that China’s tech crackdown is largely over and the country’s stance is softening.