Jack Ma, chairman of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, delivered a speech on how the internet of things might impact the future at the WIOT (World Internet of Things Exposition) Summit on Sept 10 in Wuxi, Jiangsu province.

"IoT, cloud computing, big data and other new technologies all indicate the coming of the big data era," he said.

"IoT combined with cloud computing and big data will make the future, and the essence of IoT is connection and intelligence," he added.

Ma claimed that through computing, data and machines, smart intelligence will help people enhance their instincts. Meanwhile, cloud computing and big data will record all behavior, including unconscious behavior, to help people understand themselves better, he stated.

"Companies are a powerful force that will push the progress of the IoT industry. And I am very grateful that Jiangsu Provincial Government has offered the World Internet of Things Exposition as a platform for industry experts, business leaders and government officials to share their ideas," said Ma.

Ma went on to say that government should construct a perfect system to manage, lead and protect business innovation, while stressing that the world has moved from information technology to data technology, with an emphasis on sharing information.  

"We think data is going to be so important to human life in the future. With the development of the internet of things, everything will be connected," claimed Ma.

In 2009, Alibaba launched a business in cloud computing. In the meantime, East China’s Jiangsu province began exploring IoT technologies. Both parties believe that the IoT and cloud computing, which are still just concepts to most people, are the future.

Through eight years of persistent efforts, Alibaba Cloud has ranked as the top fourth largest public cloud services provider globally, and Wuxi city, an IoT leader in Jiangsu province, has enhanced China's status in terms of the global IoT industry by establishing 11 international IoT standards and 41 national ones.

Jack Ma, chairman of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, delivers a speech on how the internet of things might impact the future at the WIOT (World Internet of Things Exposition) Summit on Sept 10 in Wuxi, Jiangsu province.[Photo provided to China Daily]