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Alibaba says newest Qwen AI model is second only to Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5

Alibaba Group Holding has previewed its next-generation artificial intelligence model Qwen3.8, which the company says is “second only” to Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5. Qwen3.8 has 2.4 trillion parameters, making it one of the most powerful models available today.

By Coco Feng in Guangdong·Jul 19·scmp.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Alibaba says newest Qwen AI model is second only to Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5
Image: scmp.com

Alibaba has released a new AI model, Qwen3.8, which is comparable to leading frontier AI models and second only to Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5. The model has 2.4 trillion parameters, making it one of the most powerful models available today.

Why it matters

The release of Qwen3.8 highlights China’s push into the multi-trillion parameter age, with domestic labs chasing parity with US heavyweights in the AI space.

Imagine you have a super powerful computer that can learn and do tasks on its own. That’s basically what Alibaba’s Qwen3.8 is. It’s a special kind of computer program that can understand and respond to language, and it’s one of the most powerful ones available today. It’s like a super smart robot that can help us with lots of things!

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

The release of Qwen3.8 marks a significant milestone in China’s AI development, with the model’s 2.4 trillion parameters placing it among the most powerful models available today. This achievement underscores the country’s commitment to becoming a global leader in AI research and development. Alibaba’s Qwen3.8 is a testament to the company’s investment in AI research and its ambition to drive innovation in the field.

Why Cursor?

Alibaba’s Qwen3.8 is not just a powerful AI model; it is also a reflection of the company’s strategy to drive growth through AI-driven innovation. By releasing Qwen3.8, Alibaba is signaling its intent to become a major player in the global AI landscape. The company’s investment in AI research and development is a vote of confidence in the sector’s potential for growth and innovation.

The Road Ahead

The release of Qwen3.8 marks the beginning of a new era in AI development in China. With the country’s top AI labs and companies pushing the boundaries of what is possible, the future of AI looks bright. As the global AI landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Alibaba’s Qwen3.8 performs in comparison to other leading AI models.

Key points

  • Alibaba has released a new AI model, Qwen3.8, which is comparable to leading frontier AI models and second only to Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5.
  • Qwen3.8 has 2.4 trillion parameters, making it one of the most powerful models available today.
  • The release of Qwen3.8 marks a significant milestone in China’s AI development, with the country’s top AI labs and companies pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
The Upside

If Qwen3.8 continues to perform well, it could lead to significant advancements in AI research and development, potentially driving growth and innovation in the sector. Additionally, Alibaba’s investment in AI research and development could lead to the creation of new jobs and opportunities in the field.

The Downside

However, the development and deployment of Qwen3.8 also raises concerns about the potential risks and challenges associated with AI, such as job displacement and bias in decision-making. Furthermore, the increasing complexity of AI models like Qwen3.8 could lead to difficulties in understanding and interpreting their outputs.

Originally reported at

scmp.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsai-agentschinaalibabaanthropicclaudes-fable-5

Author

Coco Feng in Guangdong

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 19, 2026

Source

scmp.com

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Topics

ai-agentschinaalibabaanthropicclaudes-fable-5

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