Alibaba Group is gearing up to release Qwen 3, the next generation of its flagship artificial intelligence model, as early as this month.
The planned launch comes at a time when competition in China’s AI sector is reaching new heights, particularly following the rise of newcomer DeepSeek, which has quickly established itself as a formidable player in the global AI landscape.
Alibaba’s AI Response: Qwen 2.5-Max Challenges DeepSeek’s Rise
Alibaba’s new AI platform could emerge later in April, Bloomberg News says, though people familiar with the issue caution that the timing is fluid and could be adjusted. The technology and e-commerce giant has yet to make any official statements regarding the launch.
The past several months have witnessed record-breaking speed in AI product releases in China’s technology sector. DeepSeek was the surprise driver at the start of the year when it rolled out an AI model that claimed to have cost significantly less to create than similar models from Western companies but performed excellently.
Players in the industry noted that DeepSeek’s groundbreaking approach to creating AI models drew interest very swiftly in China and even internationally.
Alibaba’s response to DeepSeek’s breakthrough was swift and strategic. Just days after DeepSeek made headlines in late January, Alibaba rushed out Qwen 2.5-Max, claiming it outperformed DeepSeek’s V3 model.
What made this move particularly notable was its timing – Alibaba released the model during the Lunar New Year holiday, when most Chinese businesses are typically closed and employees are celebrating with their families. This unusual timing highlighted the competitive pressure Alibaba felt from DeepSeek’s sudden rise.
“The holiday release of Qwen 2.5-Max speaks volumes about how seriously Alibaba is taking the competition,” said Lin Wei, a technology analyst at East China Normal University. “In Chinese tech circles, interrupting the New Year holiday for a product launch is almost unheard of unless something truly significant is at stake.”
Alibaba’s Billion-Dollar Bet Amidst DeepSeek’s Rise
DeepSeek’s momentum has continued to build, with the company reportedly accelerating development of its next model to maintain its competitive edge.
Sources familiar with DeepSeek’s plans indicate the company aims to release its next-generation model before May, putting additional pressure on established players like Alibaba.
The intense rivalry extends beyond China’s borders, with companies like OpenAI continuing to push the boundaries of AI capabilities. This global competition has created a complex landscape where Chinese tech firms must innovate rapidly not only to outpace domestic rivals but also to keep up with international developments.
For Alibaba, the stakes are particularly high. The company has previously announced plans to invest approximately 380 billion yuan (around $55 billion) in computing infrastructure over the coming years. This massive investment underscores Alibaba’s determination to remain at the forefront of AI technology despite mounting challenges from newer competitors.
“What we’re seeing in China’s AI sector right now is reminiscent of the early smartphone wars,” commented Zhang Hua, director of the Institute for Digital Economy Research in Beijing.
“Companies are fighting for market position and technological leadership at a pace that was unimaginable just a year ago. Qwen 3’s launch will be a critical moment for Alibaba to reassert its technological credentials.”
Industry experts suggest that Alibaba’s Qwen 3 will need to demonstrate significant advancements over previous versions to counter the momentum that DeepSeek has built. The model is expected to offer improvements in reasoning abilities, multilingual support, and specialized domain knowledge – all areas where competition has intensified.
As the date for the launch gets closer, both investors and market watchers can’t wait to learn if Alibaba can develop an AI model that redrafts the rules of the game.
The result might have far-reaching implications not just for Alibaba’s role in the race for AI but for the overall trajectory of China’s fast-developing artificial intelligence industry in general.
The next few weeks will be historic for China’s AI scene, with Alibaba’s announcement of Qwen 3 potentially signaling a new era in the nation’s technological revolution. Whether that will be sufficient to stem the tide of DeepSeek’s advance remains to be seen, but this much is true: the rate of AI development in China is far from slowing down.