Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is preparing to roll out Qwen 3, the latest iteration of its flagship AI model, as early as this month, Bloomberg reported. The Hangzhou-based tech giant’s upcoming release underscores its aggressive push in the AI sector, where it faces mounting competition from OpenAI, DeepSeek, and other rivals.

While the exact launch date remains uncertain, Qwen 3 could debut by the end of April. The move follows Alibaba’s recent streak of AI advancements, including last week’s introduction of a new model in its Qwen 2.5 series. That model boasts capabilities such as text, image, music, and video analysis while remaining efficient enough to operate on personal devices like smartphones and computers. Additionally, in March, the company rolled out an updated version of its AI assistant, Quark.

Alibaba’s rapid AI expansion aligns with broader industry trends, as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have all unveiled new AI models in recent weeks. During a February earnings call, CEO Eddie Wu emphasized the company’s commitment to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), stating that continuously pushing the boundaries of intelligence remains Alibaba’s top priority.

China’s AI race has intensified, particularly after DeepSeek gained global recognition for developing a cost-effective AI model. In response, Alibaba swiftly introduced Qwen 2.5-Max in January, positioning it as a superior alternative to DeepSeek’s V3 model. Notably, Alibaba’s launch coincided with the first day of the Lunar New Year, a rare timing that signified the pressure competitors like DeepSeek are exerting on the industry.

Meanwhile, DeepSeek is accelerating the launch of a successor to its R1 model, aiming for a pre-May release. The move signals its determination to sustain momentum in the fiercely competitive AI landscape, where Chinese firms are racing to innovate while keeping costs in check.

With Alibaba’s upcoming Qwen 3 release and DeepSeek’s rapid advancements, China’s AI battle is heating up, shaping the next phase of AI development on both domestic and global fronts.