Tencent Seeks Change: Pony Ma Requires Employees to Adapt to AI Changes

On November 11, Tencent celebrated its 28th anniversary, with Chairman of the Board Ma Huateng joining core executives in an online dialogue with all employees. Unlike previous years, Ma Huateng flagged risks and asked employees to adapt to AI-driven changes, stating that this is the first time the company is undertaking heavy-asset businesses, where the financial and organizational approaches differ, and that organizational transformation must be pushed hardernot to cut costs but to adapt to a new battlefield, with both people and the organization requiring major adjustments, and expressing the hope that with the existing headcount the pace can be faster and small teams can accomplish big things. He warned that the wave has already "struck," requiring preparation for new tactics and a shift from land warfare to naval warfare, and candidly admitted that it is already somewhat late and that employees can no longer comfortably feel safe.