Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group on Tuesday launched Qwen 3, an upgraded version of its flagship artificial intelligence model that introduces new hybrid inference capabilities.
The launch comes as competition in China’s AI space intensifies, spurred by the breakthrough success of local startup DeepSeek earlier this year, which claimed to have built high-performance models at a lower cost than Western peers.
Chinese search leader Baidu joined the AI arms race on Friday, launching its Ernie 4.5 Turbo and inference-focused Ernie X1 Turbo models.
Alibaba’s latest versions combine traditional AI capabilities with advanced dynamic inference to create a more adaptable and efficient platform for app and software developers.
The e-commerce giant previously launched its Qwen 2.5-Max model in late January, a few days after the DeepSeek launch, claiming superior performance.
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