Alibaba launches powerful new AI model, intensifying global tech race

The new flagship model features 397 billion parameters and demonstrates enhanced capabilities despite being smaller than its predecessor, the trillion-parameter Qwen-3-Max-Thinking. According to Alibaba, Qwen3.5 processes large workloads eight times more effectively than previous versions. The company emphasized its design for the "agentic AI era," enabling complex task execution across mobile and desktop applications through what it terms "visual agentic capabilities."

Expanding linguistic reach and accessibility

Qwen3.5 expands language support to 201 languages and dialects, adding 82 new linguistic systems beyond the previous generation. This broad accessibility positions the model for diverse global markets. The open-source nature of the release allows developers and enterprises worldwide to build upon Alibaba's technology, potentially accelerating innovation across multiple sectors and regions, including Türkiye's growing AI development community.

Competitive landscape in China and globally

The launch comes as Alibaba seeks greater market share in China's increasingly competitive AI sector, currently dominated by ByteDance's Doubao and DeepSeek. Both Chinese firms achieved international breakthrough recognition last year. Alibaba previously responded to DeepSeek's viral rise with Qwen 2.5-Max, which it claimed outperformed one of DeepSeek's prominent models. The new release represents Alibaba's latest effort to gain ground in the cutthroat domestic market while challenging US dominance in global AI development.

Implications for US-China technology rivalry

The Qwen3.5 rollout intensifies the broader technological competition between Washington and Beijing, with artificial intelligence emerging as a critical strategic domain. Alibaba's claims of superior performance on key benchmarks, combined with dramatically reduced operational costs, could reshape competitive dynamics in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. For international observers, including technology partners and competitors in Türkiye and beyond, the accelerating pace of Chinese AI advancement signals shifting global technological balances with significant economic and strategic implications.