Alibaba

Qwen by Alibaba in 2026: From Open-Source Leader to Closed Flagships

While managers pay for ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro, Alibaba has built one of the largest AI ecosystems in the world – free chat, open models, and API prices a fraction of the competition. Qwen (pronounced “chwen”, from 通义千问 – “A Thousand Questions”) had, by mid-2026, surpassed every Western rival in download counts and become a tool every manager should know. But the ecosystem changed dramatically over six months: flagship models went closed, key developers left, and the strategy shifted from “everything free” to the familiar “the best models cost money.”