TLDR
- Alibaba launched QwQ-32B, a new AI reasoning model claiming to match performance of DeepSeek’s R1 model with far fewer parameters
- Alibaba’s Hong Kong shares closed 8.4% higher following the announcement
- The new model is accessible via Alibaba’s Qwen Chat service
- Chinese government recently pledged increased support for AI and other tech industries
- Chinese startup Monica also released a new AI agent called Manus, claiming it outperforms OpenAI
Alibaba Group has unveiled a new artificial intelligence reasoning model that sent its stock soaring in Hong Kong trading. The Chinese e-commerce giant announced QwQ-32B, its latest AI model, on Thursday.
The company claims the new model can match the performance of Chinese startup DeepSeek’s R1 model despite having far fewer parameters. QwQ-32B has 32 billion parameters compared to DeepSeek’s 671 billion.
Investors reacted positively to the news. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares closed 8.4% higher on Thursday.
The QwQ-32B model is now available through Alibaba’s chatbot service, Qwen Chat. Users can select from various Qwen models including Qwen2.5-Max, which is the most powerful language model in the Qwen series.
According to Alibaba, the new model performed well in benchmark tests. It demonstrated strong capabilities in mathematical reasoning, coding, and general problem-solving.
The company said QwQ-32B performs at levels close to top models from competitors. These include OpenAI’s o1 mini and DeepSeek’s R1.
DeepSeek has emerged as a standout in China’s AI sector. The startup has been building models that rival top offerings from OpenAI but at a much lower cost despite using less computing power.
The announcement comes as China increases its focus on artificial intelligence. On Wednesday, the Chinese government pledged greater support for several tech industries including AI, humanoid robots, and 6G telecommunications.
Alibaba was not the only Chinese company making AI news on Thursday. Startup Monica released an AI agent called Manus.
Manus outperformed ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s Deep Research
Monica claims Manus outperformed ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s Deep Research on a benchmark for AI assistants. The new AI agent is currently available by invitation only.
Manus is described as a more advanced version of a chatbot. According to use cases on Monica’s website, it can help users make travel plans or conduct comparative analyses of insurance policies.
A demonstration video of Manus posted by Monica on X received over 280,000 views by Thursday. Many users responded by asking for invites to try the new AI agent.
The developments at both Alibaba and Monica highlight China’s growing presence in the global AI race. Chinese companies are increasingly challenging established leaders like OpenAI.
Alibaba’s stock performance following the announcement shows investor confidence in the company’s AI strategy. The 8.4% rise also helped boost the broader Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.
The QwQ-32B model represents Alibaba’s latest effort to expand beyond its core e-commerce business. The company has been investing heavily in AI and cloud computing in recent years.
Access to the new model through Qwen Chat gives Alibaba users immediate ability to test its capabilities. This rapid deployment shows the company’s commitment to bringing AI advances quickly to market.
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