Chinese companies are speeding up the release of new AI models to compete with U.S. rivals. Moonshot AI unveiled Kimi K2.5 with advanced capabilities, while Alibaba introduced Qwen3-Max-Thinking. Z.ai and Baidu also released new models, with Baidu’s Ernie 5.0 claiming supremacy over Google. China’s AI models may be catching up to those from the U.S.

Chinese companies are making homegrown AI technologies more affordable for emerging markets, focusing on open-source models. Microsoft noted increased DeepSeek usage in Africa. Tencent integrates AI into gaming and entertainment ecosystems. Tencent plans to distribute cash awards through Yuanbao AI chatbot during Lunar New Year. ByteDance and Baidu are also running AI promotions.

Alibaba updated its Qwen AI app to enable shopping and payments within the app, boosting integration with Taobao. This move could drive more revenue for Alibaba by increasing user interaction with Taobao. Chinese companies are vying for user traffic, prioritizing integration and accessibility over advanced AI models.

Read more at CNBC: One year after DeepSeek, Chinese AI firms from Alibaba to Moonshot race to release new models