Tencent founder Pony Ma has told employees the company is willing to reassign half of its workforce to AI-native businesses, according to accounts of his annual speech to staff. Ma also called on every Tencent employee to rethink their role in the AI era.
The remarks came during Tencent's 28th-anniversary address, delivered as an online live broadcast. Ma said the industry has entered an "Age of Discovery" and described the company as two forces: the core businesses as an army and the new AI businesses as a navy.
Under that framing, moving half of the workforce to the navy would expand markets and open new growth avenues. The army, covering Tencent's existing operations, is expected to use AI to run more efficiently.
Key facts
- 01Pony Ma said Tencent is willing to reassign half of its workforce to AI-native businesses.
- 02Ma made the remarks in Tencent's 28th-anniversary speech, delivered as an online live broadcast.
- 03He cast the core businesses as an army using AI for efficiency and new AI businesses as a navy exploring growth.
- 04Sources close to Tencent called rumors of a 50% layoff completely untrue.
- 05Tencent shares fell about 2.6% in Hong Kong trading on Nov. 12.
Ma also called for a flatter organization with less middle management. Accounts of the speech say management presented the push as a way to accelerate organizational change, distinct from Tencent's earlier cost-reduction and efficiency drive.
The speech quickly fed rumors that Tencent planned to lay off half of its staff. Sources close to Tencent called that reading a serious misinterpretation and said it was completely untrue. People familiar with the matter said Ma's remarks were aimed more at encouraging all employees to apply AI than at a formal restructuring.
Tencent shares fell about 2.6% in Hong Kong trading on Thursday as the reports circulated.
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