Meta Platforms is reportedly using Alibaba’s Qwen large language model to help optimize the development of its latest AI model, codenamed “Avocado”, which is expected to launch in spring 2026. Multiple reports indicate that Qwen is being used as one of several third-party AI models during training and refinement of Meta’s new AI systems. AAStocks
According to people familiar with the matter, Meta’s Avocado project team — sometimes referred to internally as “TBD Lab” — has incorporated not only Qwen but also other foundation models like Google’s Gemma and OpenAI’s open-source variants as part of its development workflow.
Why the Move Matters
This development is significant because it shows an unconventional cooperation — albeit indirect — between two powerful global tech entities: Meta (a U.S. AI leader) and Alibaba (a major Chinese cloud-AI provider). Historically, the two companies have competed in separate markets and tech ecosystems, but today’s AI landscape increasingly blurs those lines as firms experiment with best-in-class technologies wherever they originate.
Industry analysts note that leveraging Qwen could help Meta enhance certain capabilities — such as multilingual reasoning, multimodal understanding, or context-rich generation — that Qwen’s architecture and data strengths are known for.
By incorporating Qwen into its model stack, Meta gains a broader set of performance inputs and evaluation signals during training, potentially leading to more robust final models. This reflects an evolving trend where AI research increasingly borrows strengths across ecosystems rather than developing exclusively in isolation.
About Qwen: Alibaba’s AI Powerhouse
Qwen (also known as Tongyi Qianwen) is a family of large language models developed by Alibaba Cloud. The Qwen series spans multiple multimodal models capable of understanding and generating text, images, and other inputs — positioning it as one of the competitive alternatives to Meta’s Llama, OpenAI’s GPT-4o, and similar platforms.
The Qwen 2.5-Max variant, for example, has been highlighted for outperforming several rival models on certain benchmarks, underscoring its quality and versatility.
Alibaba actively promotes Qwen as a flexible AI platform that can be deployed via cloud APIs or integrated into products for advanced tasks like writing, image generation, and data analysis.
Meta’s Strategic AI Shift
Meta’s use of Qwen comes alongside a broader strategic pivot toward monetizable AI models. The company is reportedly transitioning from its long-standing open-source focus to a more closed-source, commercial approach aimed at generating revenue from AI technologies. Under CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s direction, Meta’s AI roadmap includes more premium models and features that can support services, consumer products, and enterprise use cases
Avocado, the prototype model benefiting from Qwen’s integration, is anticipated to play a key role in this strategic repositioning when it arrives next year.
Broader Implications for the AI Ecosystem
The news highlights several broader trends in AI development:
- Cross-ecosystem collaboration: Major AI players are increasingly incorporating ideas and models from diverse sources rather than relying solely on internal systems.
- Competition and convergence: As the global AI arms race intensifies, the lines between competitors may blur when advancement benefits developers and end users alike.
- Strategic diversification: Using multiple foundation models — from Alibaba, Google, OpenAI, and others — suggests Meta is exploring ensemble development strategies to improve performance and reduce risk.
These dynamics reflect not just competition but rapid innovation and knowledge sharing, which could accelerate AI capabilities industry-wide.
What Comes Next
- Avocado’s release: Meta’s upcoming AI model launch in 2026 will be closely watched to see how Qwen-influenced development translates to end-user performance.
- Platform alliances: This development may inspire deeper technical partnerships or shared research initiatives across major AI developers.
- Market reactions: Both Alibaba and Meta stocks and product strategies may shift as investors and developers digest the implications of AI cross-optimization.
In summary, Meta’s reported use of Alibaba’s Qwen to enhance its AI models marks a notable development in cross-platform AI research and optimization, underscoring the dynamic and interconnected nature of generative AI competition today.
