Beijing: China’s technology companies have launched a wave of new artificial intelligence models during the Spring Festival season, marking a year since startup DeepSeek shook the global tech industry with powerful and low cost AI systems.
The holiday period has become an important window for announcements, as firms compete for attention and seek to attract developers and users. Analysts say the timing helps companies showcase innovation while demand for digital services peaks.
Hangzhou based DeepSeek, whose breakthrough in 2025 demonstrated that advanced AI could be built at far lower cost, is preparing upgraded versions of its systems. The upcoming models are expected to offer greater memory capacity and improved performance, as the company aims to maintain its influence in the rapidly evolving market.
Major technology players are moving quickly to strengthen their positions. ByteDance has released Doubao 2.0, an upgraded chatbot linked to China’s most widely used AI app. The company has also gained attention with its Seedance video generation technology, which can create realistic videos from simple prompts.
Alibaba is preparing to introduce its Qwen 3.5 model, while Tencent has unveiled a compressed AI system designed to run efficiently on mobile devices.
Several startups are also entering the race with new offerings. Zhipu has launched the open source GLM 5 model with enhanced coding and task automation abilities. MiniMax has introduced its M2.5 model as it expands its presence following a major public listing.
Other developments include iFlytek unveiling Spark X2, trained using domestic chips, NetEase Youdao launching a personal AI assistant, and Dexmal presenting a robotics focused AI system.
Industry experts say the surge in new models reflects a shift toward affordable and consumer focused AI tools. Companies are also working to reduce reliance on foreign technology and strengthen domestic chip ecosystems.
DeepSeek’s earlier breakthrough challenged the dominance of Western firms and encouraged open development strategies, intensifying competition across China’s AI sector.
With rapid innovation and strong investment, observers believe 2026 could be another decisive year in the global AI race, as Chinese companies push to expand their influence at home and abroad.