Alibaba unveils Qwen-3.5, sharpening global race to spread AI models

byVerified News Online

AdvertisementArtificial intelligenceTechBig TechAlibaba unveils Qwen-3.5, sharpening global race to spread AI models

With multimodal capabilities and open weights, Qwen-3.5 signals Alibaba’s ambition to anchor the next phase of global AI deployment

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Qwen 3.5 has performed on par with leading systems from US heavyweights OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Photo: Shutterstock

Vincent Chow

Alibaba Cloud has unveiled its next-generation open artificial intelligence model, Qwen-3.5, in a move set to have major implications for the global AI race between China and the US.

The much-anticipated release, timed on the eve of the Lunar New Year, capped a frenetic week in which nearly every major Chinese AI developer rolled out new flagship models – with the notable exception of DeepSeek, despite media speculation that a V4 system would debut before the holiday.

Qwen-3.5 is Alibaba Cloud’s strongest model yet, with self-reported benchmark scores in areas such as coding, search and agentic capabilities surpassing domestic rivals.

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The model also performed on par with leading systems from US heavyweights OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind, according to an announcement by the Chinese tech giant on Monday evening.

The model was made available first on Alibaba’s flagship consumer AI app Qwen on Monday afternoon, with an official announcement expected soon after.

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Alibaba Cloud is the AI and cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the South China Morning Post.

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