- Chinese technology giant Alibaba plans to ask major users of the next version of its Qwen open-source AI model for a share of revenue they make from the offering, according to two people familiar with the company's plans.
- Alibaba's Qwen3.8-Max model is an open-source, open-weight model, meaning that the underlying learned settings that allow developers to run or adapt the system are available for download.
- Alibaba plans to implement a similar revenue-share measure for its open-source model next week, said the two people familiar with its strategy, which has not been reported previously.
- The rate for the revenue share remains unclear as discussions are ongoing.
- Moonshot released Kimi K3, an open-source model with a revenue-sharing provision for users generating over $20 million in annual sales.
- Chinasoft International disclosed a revenue-sharing agreement with Moonshot in a regulatory filing, without disclosing the percentage.
- The plans show Chinese AI firms are converging on a business model as they push to take market share from their U.S. rivals.
Alibaba plans to implement a revenue-sharing model for its next Qwen open-source AI model, following similar strategies adopted by other Chinese AI firms.147
According to sources, the company will ask major users for a share of the revenue generated from the model, although the exact rate is still under discussion.
“The plans show Chinese AI firms are converging on a business model,” said one source, highlighting the competitive landscape as these companies aim to capture market share from U.S. counterparts like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Historically, Alibaba has charged developers for using its models on its cloud platform but allowed open-source offerings to be utilized in customers' data centers without fees.
This shift indicates a significant change in strategy, as the company seeks to monetize its technology more effectively.
Similar to Moonshot's Kimi K3 model, which requires revenue sharing for services generating over $20 million annually, Alibaba's approach reflects a growing trend among Chinese tech firms.5
“Alibaba also plans to ask for a revenue share,” noted the sources, emphasizing the ongoing discussions about the specifics of this arrangement.
As the AI landscape evolves, these developments could reshape how open-source models are utilized and monetized in the industry.
“The move follows Moonshot's Kimi K3, which requires revenue sharing for users generating over $20 million in annual sales, with Moonshot seeking up to a 30% cut. Chinese AI firms are converging on this model to compete with U.S. rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.”
