Beijing-based AI startup Manus AI has announced a strategic partnership with Alibaba’s Qwen team, a move that could significantly accelerate its expansion in China’s competitive artificial intelligence landscape. The collaboration, revealed on Tuesday, will see Manus AI integrate its AI agent capabilities with Qwen’s open-source AI models, enhancing its performance and scalability.
The partnership comes just days after Manus AI launched its AI agent, which it claims outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, AI agents are designed to function as digital employees, capable of executing complex tasks independently with minimal user prompts.
Manus AI’s Rapid Rise in China’s AI Space
Since its launch last week, Manus AI has generated buzz across Chinese social media, drawing comparisons to DeepSeek, another Chinese AI company that recently stunned the global AI community with its low-cost, high-performing chatbot. The startup has been offering free AI-powered task execution for users on social media platform X, fueling widespread interest in its capabilities.
However, the overwhelming demand has led to frequent malfunctions on its platform, with access currently limited to invitation-only users. By partnering with Alibaba’s Qwen team, Manus AI aims to overcome these technical hurdles and expand its user base more efficiently.
Alibaba’s Qwen Strengthens Position Against Rivals
Alibaba’s Qwen AI team has been one of the most proactive in responding to the recent surge of Chinese AI breakthroughs. In January, just days after DeepSeek’s success, Qwen released an updated model claiming to surpass DeepSeek-V3.
With this latest collaboration, Alibaba is looking to strengthen its position against other major AI developers, including Baidu and Tencent, as Chinese tech firms race to dominate the growing AI market. The deal is expected to provide Qwen with real-world AI agent applications, giving it an edge in China’s increasingly competitive AI ecosystem.
“We look forward to collaborating with more global AI innovators,” an Alibaba spokesperson confirmed in response to the partnership.
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Aiming for a Disruptive AI Future
The partnership will focus on integrating Manus AI’s digital agent capabilities with Alibaba’s Qwen models and computing infrastructure. This will allow Manus AI to improve its AI agent’s ability to handle complex user requests and scale operations across different industries.
The move underscores how Chinese AI firms are rapidly evolving beyond chatbot technology and focusing on next-generation AI applications. While companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have led the AI agent race globally, China’s homegrown AI firms are quickly closing the gap.
With increasing global scrutiny over AI developments in China, Manus AI’s rapid rise, combined with Alibaba’s technological strength, could position it as a formidable competitor in the global AI market. However, regulatory challenges and the ability to scale AI solutions internationally remain key hurdles.
For now, as Manus AI and Alibaba push forward with their collaboration, all eyes are on whether this partnership can deliver AI-driven solutions that truly compete with the best in the world.
This news was first reported by Reuters.
