Alibaba Unveils AI Model Outperforming DeepSeek
- tech360.tv
- Feb 1, 2025
- 2 min read
Chinese tech giant Alibaba has recently introduced the Qwen 2.5-Max artificial intelligence model, claiming it surpasses the highly-regarded DeepSeek-V3. The release of Qwen 2.5-Max on the first day of the Lunar New Year, a time when many in China are with family, indicates the competitive pressure DeepSeek's rapid growth has placed on both international and domestic AI rivals.
Alibaba's cloud unit stated that the Qwen 2.5-Max outperforms leading AI models like GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3, and Llama-3.1-405B, developed by OpenAI and Meta. The recent success of DeepSeek, with its low development costs, has prompted a response from other Chinese tech companies to enhance their AI models.
Following DeepSeek's advancements, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, released an updated version of its flagship AI model, claiming superiority over Microsoft-backed OpenAI's o1 in the AIME benchmark test, which evaluates AI models' comprehension and response to complex instructions.
The predecessor of DeepSeek's V3 model, DeepSeek-V2, triggered an AI model price war in China due to its open-source nature and low cost of only 1 yuan ($0.14) per 1 million tokens processed. This led to Alibaba's cloud unit announcing significant price reductions on various models, with other Chinese tech firms like Baidu and Tencent following suit.
DeepSeek's founder, Liang Wenfeng, expressed in an interview that the startup's primary focus is achieving AGI (artificial general intelligence) rather than engaging in price wars. He highlighted the difference in operational style between DeepSeek, functioning like a research lab with young graduates and doctoral students, and traditional tech giants with high costs and rigid structures.
In a rare interview, Liang suggested that the future of the AI industry may not align with the operational structures of China's largest tech companies, emphasising the need for continued innovation in foundational models beyond the capabilities of tech giants.
Alibaba introduces Qwen 2.5-Max AI model surpassing DeepSeek-V3.
ByteDance updates AI model to rival Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
DeepSeek's low-cost AI models trigger price war in China.
Source: REUTERS
