Alibaba Group, the Chinese e-commerce giant, is making a bold move in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena. The company announced the launch of over 100 new open-source AI models, known as Qwen 2.5, during Thursday’s premarket trading, sending its stock up by 4.15%. These models are designed to cater to a wide range of applications, including automotive, gaming, and scientific research. Alibaba highlighted that the new models boast enhanced capabilities in mathematics and coding.
The open-source nature of these models allows global researchers, academics, and companies to access and utilize them without the need for training their own systems, saving significant time and resources. This move signifies Alibaba’s strategic approach to accelerate the adoption of its AI technologies by making them readily available.
In addition to the Qwen 2.5 models, Alibaba upgraded its proprietary flagship model, Qwen-Max, which is sold through its cloud computing services. The company claims that the upgraded version, Qwen-Max 2.5-Max, surpasses competitors such as Meta Platforms and OpenAI in terms of reasoning and language comprehension.
Furthermore, Alibaba introduced a text-to-video tool, similar to OpenAI’s Sora, that can generate videos based on user prompts. CEO Eddie Wu emphasized the company’s unwavering commitment to investing heavily in AI research and developing its global infrastructure.
Alibaba’s aggressive expansion into AI signifies its ambition to challenge major tech players like Microsoft and Amazon. Derek Yan, Senior Investment Strategist at KraneShares, believes that Alibaba is leveraging generative AI to enhance customer service, sales, and marketing, which could lead to substantial operational cost savings.
Earlier this month, Alibaba launched an AI-powered sourcing tool aimed at simplifying the sourcing process for American buyers, despite existing tensions between Beijing and Washington. This initiative is part of Alibaba’s broader strategy to expand its presence in the US market.
Moreover, Alibaba recently introduced an AI-powered English version of its Taobao app in Singapore. This update has significantly boosted the app’s popularity, making it the top shopping app in the country.
Alibaba’s recent developments underscore its dedication to pushing the boundaries of AI technology and solidifying its position as a leading force in the global tech landscape.
