MiniMax

Chinese AI start-up MiniMax releases low-cost open-source models that rival top chatbots

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Chinese AI start-up MiniMax releases low-cost open-source models that rival top chatbots

Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up MiniMax has launched a new series of open-source models, intensifying the competition among mainland technology firms to deliver cost-effective AI systems that can rival top offerings from US competitors. The Shanghai-based company on Tuesday unveiled the MiniMax-01 large language model (LLM) family, which includes a general-purpose foundational model, the MiniMax-Text-01, … Read more

Alibaba CEO eyes greater AI research and development, as firm open sources 100 new LLMs

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Alibaba CEO eyes greater AI research and development, as firm open sources 100 new LLMs

Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology backbone of the e-commerce giant, announced the release of more than 100 of its newly launched Qwen 2.5 LLMs to the global open-source community at the opening of the three-day Apsara Conference, its annual flagship event that runs until Saturday. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. “Alibaba Cloud is … Read more

Alibaba sees AI talent depart to start own business amid China’s unicorn boom

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Alibaba sees AI talent depart to start own business amid China’s unicorn boom

Algorithm engineer Zhou Chang, who worked on the Tongyi Qianwen large language models (LLMs), has decided to leave Alibaba’s cloud computing unit after seven years at the firm, according to two people familiar with the matter. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Zhou’s departure was first reported on Wednesday by Chinese media 36Kr. The … Read more

China’s AI competition deepens as SenseTime, Alibaba claim progress at AI show

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China’s AI competition deepens as SenseTime, Alibaba claim progress at AI show

Chinese large language model (LLM) developers from SenseTime and Alibaba Group Holding have rushed to declare fresh progress in developing their artificial intelligence (AI) technology at the country’s largest annual industry conference, in sign of deepening competition in the country’s largely closed-off market. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Chinese AI champion … Read more

Alibaba taps China’s top generative AI start-ups to boost offerings on DingTalk

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Alibaba taps China’s top generative AI start-ups to boost offerings on DingTalk

Alibaba Group Holding is giving developer access on DingTalk to six Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups to expand generative AI features on the workplace messaging platform, in its latest bid to gain an edge in the increasingly competitive market. The Hangzhou-based e-commerce and cloud computing giant, which has built its own AI model Tongyi Qianwen, … Read more

Chinese AI social media apps see demand rise in overseas markets amid slow mainland adoption

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Chinese AI social media apps see demand rise in overseas markets amid slow mainland adoption

A number of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) companies are seeing greater demand for their social media applications in overseas markets, as adoption on the mainland has been slower by comparison. Shanghai-based MiniMax – a generative AI start-up that counts South China Morning Post owner Alibaba Group Holding as a major investor – has become a … Read more

Tech unicorn Zhipu AI joins China’s LLM price war amid new funding round

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Tech unicorn Zhipu AI joins China’s LLM price war amid new funding round

“We diligently iterated the core technology of our models and improved its efficiency,” Zhipu AI chief executive Zhang Peng said at the event. “This is not just a simple price war. Through technological innovation, we lowered the cost and improved customer value.” This development reflects Zhipu AI’s confidence to go head-to-head against the major LLM … Read more

China’s 4 new ‘AI tigers’ – Baichuan, Zhipu AI, Moonshot AI and MiniMax – emerge as investor favourites

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China’s 4 new ‘AI tigers’ – Baichuan, Zhipu AI, Moonshot AI and MiniMax – emerge as investor favourites

A group of artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups are emerging as China’s best hopes for reaching the frontier of ChatGPT-like technology, as they draw increasing attention from users and investors. Among them, Baichuan is the latest to complete a new round of fundraising. While the start-up told the Post on Thursday that there had been some … Read more

Chinese venture capitalist Allen Zhu steers clear of mainland tech firms’ AI large language model frenzy

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Chinese venture capitalist Allen Zhu steers clear of mainland tech firms’ AI large language model frenzy

“I believe in applications and those that can commercialise immediately,” said Zhu, who indicated that he did not invest in any LLM-focused company on the mainland last year. Sample code for an artificial intelligence large language model. Photo: Shutterstock Li pointed out that there were too many LLMs being introduced in mainland China, “but too … Read more

Alibaba said to lead new financing round for Chinese AI firm MiniMax that would value the start-up at over US$2 billion

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Alibaba said to lead new financing round for Chinese AI firm MiniMax that would value the start-up at over US billion

Shanghai-based MiniMax, which was founded in 2021, is in the process of raising new funding that would value the company at more than US$2 billion, another investor with knowledge of the matter said. The two investors requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media. A report by Bloomberg on Tuesday said … Read more