The 3.2 GHz server chip, built on the open-source RISC-V architecture, was described as “the highest performing RISC-V CPU in the world” during an internal conference hosted by Alibaba’s research arm, DAMO Academy, according to Chinese media reports. The chip reportedly delivers more than three times the performance of its predecessor, the XuanTie C920. Details on the semiconductor foundry that manufactured the chip were not disclosed.
Alibaba highlighted the advantages of the RISC-V architecture, noting that its open-standard design allows for customized instruction sets and accelerated AI workloads without heavy licensing costs—a feature critical for developing agentic AI systems.
The company is expanding its in-house chip development through its T-Head semiconductor division. While the XuanTie series is designed for high-performance cloud computing and agentic AI applications, T-Head’s Zhenwu 810E chips are focused on AI training and inference workloads.
The launch follows Alibaba’s recent introduction of Wukong, an enterprise platform optimised for AI agent workflows in China, alongside its international equivalent, Accio Work, which debuted on Monday. Both platforms are designed to autonomously manage complex business operations for small and medium-sized enterprises, reflecting Alibaba’s push to integrate AI more deeply into enterprise operations.
Earlier this month, Alibaba reorganized some of its AI teams under the newly formed Alibaba Token Hub, which is tasked with building AI work platforms for enterprise adoption. The shift comes as the company explores new strategies to maintain profitability amid falling token prices for Chinese AI models and intensifying domestic competition in the AI sector.
The XuanTie C950 represents Alibaba’s latest effort to consolidate its position in high-performance AI computing while supporting the broader adoption of agentic AI in commercial and industrial applications.