Chinese tech powerhouse Alibaba Group has launched Qwen 3, the latest iteration of its artificial intelligence model, offering innovative hybrid reasoning capabilities.
This move comes as competition within China’s AI industry heats up, driven by the early success of local startup DeepSeek, which gained attention by delivering high-performing models at a fraction of the cost charged by Western firms.
The AI arms race intensified further last Friday with Baidu, China’s leading search engine company, releasing its Ernie 4.5 Turbo and Ernie X1 Turbo models, which focus on advanced reasoning capabilities.
In response, Alibaba’s Qwen 3 model aims to blend traditional AI functions with cutting-edge reasoning strategies, providing a more flexible and powerful platform designed to entice application and software developers.
Earlier this year, in a bid to maintain its competitive edge, Alibaba rapidly rolled out the Qwen 2.5-Max model shortly after DeepSeek’s announcement, claiming it outperformed existing options.
