Alibaba makes AI video generation model free to use globally

Core Insights - Alibaba has made its video generation AI models available for free, intensifying competition with rivals like OpenAI [2] - The company is open sourcing four models from its Wan2.1 series, which can generate images and videos from text and image inputs [1] - Open source models, such as those from Alibaba and DeepSeek, allow for community-driven innovation and modification, contrasting with proprietary models [3] Company Developments - Alibaba's stock has surged by 66% in 2025, attributed to improved financial performance and its status as a key AI player in China [5] - The company published its first open source model in August 2023, marking its commitment to the open source movement [4] - Recent support from Chinese President Xi Jinping for the domestic private sector has positively influenced market perception of Alibaba [5] Industry Trends - The trend of open sourcing AI technology is gaining momentum, particularly among Chinese firms, with Alibaba and DeepSeek being prominent examples [4] - There is an ongoing debate regarding the potential commoditization of AI models, as open source technologies become more prevalent [3]