Alibaba HappyHorse 1.1 AI Video Model Launches With Global AI Filmmaking Competition
Alibaba has launched a new tool called HappyHorse 1.1. It is an AI video model. That means it is a computer program that makes short videos on its own. You just type a few words, or give it a picture, and it makes a moving video. Alibaba is a huge tech company from China. It showed off this tool on June 23, 2026.
Alibaba also started a worldwide contest at the same time. The goal is to find the best films made with AI tools. This is Alibaba’s newest step in a fast-growing race. Many companies are trying to build AI that can make video. The news came from TechNode, a website that reports on China’s tech industry.
What is HappyHorse 1.1?
HappyHorse 1.1 is a better version of Alibaba’s older video tool. It does “video generation.” That just means the AI builds a video clip from nothing. You give it words or a picture. Then it makes the moving video for you.
TechNode says the 1.1 version is better than the older 1.0 version in many ways. Alibaba says the new tool moves things on screen more smoothly. It keeps people and objects looking the same from one shot to the next. It also follows your typed request more closely. The pictures look sharper and clearer. And it can now make sound to go with the video.
The key upgrades, in plain words
- Motion (how things move): movement looks smoother and more natural.
- Staying the same: a person or object keeps the same look across the whole clip.
- Following your request: the video matches what you typed more closely.
- Picture quality: clearer, more detailed images.
- Sound: the tool can now make matching sound.
Where you can use it
Alibaba is putting HappyHorse 1.1 in three places, TechNode says. You can use it on the HappyHorse website. You can also use it on Alibaba Cloud’s Bailian platform. And you can use it on Qwen Cloud. Alibaba Cloud is the part of the company that rents out computing power over the internet. Qwen is the name of Alibaba’s group of AI models. Putting the tool in these places makes it easy for businesses and creators to use it in their own work.
Benchmarks & specs
Alibaba told us which parts of HappyHorse 1.1 got better. But it did not share test scores. A benchmark is a test that measures how good a tool is. Alibaba also did not share the picture size, the clip length, or the price. The table below shows only what the company actually said. Blank cells mean the number was not shared.
| Item | HappyHorse 1.1 (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Maker | Alibaba |
| Type | AI video generation model |
| Previous version | HappyHorse 1.0 |
| Release date | June 23, 2026 |
| Motion dynamics | Improved vs 1.0 |
| Subject consistency | Improved vs 1.0 |
| Prompt adherence | Improved vs 1.0 |
| Visual quality | Improved vs 1.0 |
| Audio generation | Improved vs 1.0 |
| Where to access | HappyHorse website, Alibaba Cloud Bailian, Qwen Cloud |
| Benchmark scores | Not disclosed |
| Resolution / clip length | Not disclosed |
| Pricing | Not disclosed |
What it means: Alibaba is selling HappyHorse 1.1 on how good its videos look in real life, not on test scores. Because it did not share hard numbers, we cannot measure how strong it is against other tools from this announcement.
The HorsePower AI Video Competition
Along with the tool, Alibaba started a worldwide contest on the same day, June 23, 2026. It is called the HorsePower AI Video Competition. It is open to AIGC video creators all over the world. AIGC means “AI-generated content.” That is videos, images, or text made with the help of AI. Alibaba is running the contest with a partner called Huajing Entertainment Group.
The prizes are a mix of three things. There is cash. There are AI computing credits, which means free use of computing power to make more AI videos. And there are business deals. TechNode says winners can get business deals worth up to RMB 1 million. That is about $147,000. (RMB is the money used in China.) This mix of money and real work shows Alibaba wants to turn skilled hobbyists into paying customers.
Key facts
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Model | HappyHorse 1.1 |
| Maker | Alibaba |
| Launch date | June 23, 2026 |
| Competition | HorsePower AI Video Competition |
| Competition partner | Huajing Entertainment Group |
| Who can enter | AIGC video creators worldwide |
| Top reward value | Up to RMB 1 million (about $147,000) |
Why it matters (especially for India / founders)
The race to make AI video is heating up fast. Big companies are rushing to build tools that turn a few words into finished clips. We have seen rivals move into nearby areas too. For example, there is a new headset project like ByteDance’s Pico Project Swan headset. And there is research work such as Google DeepMind’s AI films. Alibaba’s move shows it does not want to fall behind in this fight.
For Indian founders and creators, this matters in two ways. First, cheap AI video tools can let a small team make ads, explainer clips, or short films. They will not need a big studio budget. Second, contests like HorsePower open a door for creators everywhere, including in India. They can win cash and real deals. Cheaper, faster video could change how small businesses sell themselves online.
FAQ
What is Alibaba HappyHorse 1.1?
It is Alibaba’s better AI video tool. It launched on June 23, 2026. It makes short videos from a few typed words or a picture. It has better motion, steadier characters, clearer pictures, and sound than version 1.0.
Where can I use HappyHorse 1.1?
TechNode says you can use it on the HappyHorse website, on Alibaba Cloud’s Bailian platform, and on Qwen Cloud.
What is the HorsePower AI Video Competition?
It is a worldwide contest Alibaba started with Huajing Entertainment Group. It is open to AIGC video creators everywhere. Prizes include cash, computing credits, and business deals worth up to RMB 1 million (about $147,000).
The takeaway
With HappyHorse 1.1 and a worldwide contest, Alibaba is pushing hard to win over creators in the AI video race. The tool promises smoother motion, steadier characters, and built-in sound. The big prize money shows that Alibaba sees AI filmmaking as a real business, not just a tech demo.
