Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is set to release Qwen 3, an updated version of its flagship AI model, as early as this month amid escalating competition from rivals such as OpenAI and DeepSeek, Bloomberg reported.
Alibaba is preparing to release Qwen 3, its next-gen AI model, as early as this April. The update follows recent AI advancements from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, as Alibaba continues to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI)
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is set to release Qwen 3, an updated version of its flagship AI model, as early as this month amid escalating competition from rivals such as OpenAI and DeepSeek, Bloomberg reported.
The Hangzhou-based company's latest model could emerge later in April, although the exact launch date remains uncertain.
Alibaba has been releasing products quite frequently, advancing its AI product portfolio after committing to the technology earlier this year. Just a week ago, the Hangzhou-based ecommerce and cloud computing giant introduced a new model in its Qwen 2.5 series, which is capable of analyzing text, images, music, and video while remaining efficient enough to operate directly on mobile phones and computers. In addition, last month the company released an updated version of its AI assistant Quark app.
As per the report, OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have each released new AI models in recent weeks, highlighting the fierce competition in the AI space. Similarly, Alibaba has also been proactive this year, having introduced various AI products including a new model in its Qwen 2.5 series just last week and a new version of its AI helper Quark last month.
On a February 20 earnings call, Alibaba management stated that the company’s AI initiatives are primarily focused on establishing artificial general intelligence (AGI).
During the earnings call, CEO Eddie Wu stated that the company aims to continue developing models that push the boundaries of intelligence. He explained that this is the primary goal because all the visible AI applications today ranging from content creation to search, have emerged as a direct result of continually extending these boundaries. Wu emphasized that by relentlessly pushing the limits of what is possible, the company hopes to unlock even more opportunities in the future.
Chinese businesses have been publishing multiple low-cost AI services ever since DeepSeek gained attention for releasing a model that it claimed was less expensive to develop than those of its American competitors. This trend underscores the competitive and cost-efficient nature of AI innovation within the Chinese market.
Alibaba was the first to respond to DeepSeek’s rise in global prominence earlier this year. In late January, just days after DeepSeek-V3 gained widespread attention, Alibaba introduced Qwen 2.5-Max, an updated version of its flagship AI model. The company claimed that Qwen 2.5-Max outperformed DeepSeek’s offering, signaling a strong competitive stance.
Notably, Alibaba launched the model on the first day of the Lunar New Year, a time when most people in China are off work and spending time with family. This unusual timing highlighted the growing pressure DeepSeek has placed on its competitors, particularly within China’s AI industry.
In February, Reuters reported that DeepSeek was expediting the launch of a successor to its R1 model, which, along with the V3 model, had garnered significant acclaim in Silicon Valley. According to the report, DeepSeek aims to release its next-generation AI model before May, signaling its intent to maintain momentum in the competitive AI landscape.