Alibaba is reportedly setting up its own company to make a customized artificial-intelligence chip

Alibaba's Tmall Genie, an AI-powered voice assistant, has sold 5 million units since it was launched in July 2017, and has been integrated with healthcare and home appliance products from electronics manufacturers such as Phillips and Siemens, and also the Alibaba's interactive local services, such as Hema, the company said. Hema, a chain of supermarkets launched in 2015, is famous for its free 30-minute delivery and facial-recognition payment technology. It is described as the "pathfinder" of Alibaba's "new retail" strategy to go back to brick-and-mortar stores.