Alibaba Group, a major player in tech and e-commerce in China, is set to launch Qwen 3, an enhanced version of its leading AI model, later this month, according to a Bloomberg News report on Tuesday, which cited a knowledgeable source. The new model might debut towards the end of April, but the specific release date could be subject to change. Alibaba has not yet replied to Reuters’ request for comment.
In recent months, AI firms have been introducing new products at an unprecedented rate, driven by intensified competition following the rapid rise of China’s DeepSeek earlier this year. DeepSeek made waves in the global AI sector with a new model that it claims is less expensive to develop than those of its Western competitors.
Alibaba was quick to react to DeepSeek’s international success, launching Qwen 2.5-Max, an upgraded version of its premier model, just days after DeepSeek’s announcement in late January, asserting that it outperformed the celebrated DeepSeek-V3. The decision to release Qwen 2.5-Max on the first day of the Lunar New Year, a time when many Chinese people are with their families, underscored the pressure that DeepSeek has placed on its competitors, including those in China.
In February, Reuters reported that DeepSeek was hastening the launch of the successor to its R1 model, which, along with V3, has garnered significant acclaim in Silicon Valley. It was reported that DeepSeek aims to unveil this next-generation model before May.
