# Alibaba's Qwen reaches 2.4T parameters, Qwen 4 in training

Digest AI · Generative AI & Models · published 2026-10-05T04:10:34Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/alibaba-s-qwen-reaches-2-4t-parameters-qwen-4-in-training

## Summary

Alibaba’s Qwen model family has evolved from a 7-billion-parameter open-source release in 2023 to a 2.4-trillion-parameter flagship by August 2026. The latest open-weight model, Qwen3.8-2.4T-A95B, features 95 billion active parameters and introduces a commercial license requirement for providers earning over US$50 million annually. This release follows a rapid cadence in 2026, where Alibaba shipped four generations of models (Qwen3.5 through Qwen3.8) in six months, shifting toward a two-tier strategy that keeps smaller models open while monetizing frontier capabilities through proprietary APIs.

The ecosystem has expanded significantly, with over 400 open models downloaded more than 1 billion times and the Qwen app reaching 203 million monthly active users. However, the team faced internal turbulence in March 2026, with three senior figures leaving, including tech lead Junyang Lin. In response, Alibaba reorganized its AI units under CEO Eddie Wu. Looking ahead, Alibaba announced at Apsara 2026 that Qwen 4 is currently in training, with a roadmap projecting Qwen 4.5 and Qwen 5 to reach 5 to 10 trillion parameters, though no specific release dates or licenses have been confirmed for these future iterations.

## Key points

- Alibaba open-sourced Qwen3.8-2.4T-A95B with 2.4T parameters and 95B active parameters in August 2026.
- Qwen 4 is currently in training, with Qwen 4.5 and 5 projected at 5 to 10 trillion parameters.
- Alibaba released four Qwen generations in six months in 2026, splitting open and proprietary strategies.

## Why it matters

Qwen's shift to a two-tier license model and rapid release cadence signals a maturing Chinese AI ecosystem. The 2.4T parameter scale challenges US frontier labs, while the open-weight strategy continues to dominate global developer adoption, influencing how competitors structure their own model releases and monetization.

## Sources

1. [The Story of Qwen: Alibaba’s AI Models From 7B to 2.4T](https://marktechpost.com/2026/10/04/the-story-of-qwen-alibabas-ai-models-from-7b-to-2-4t) (MarkTechPost, 2026-10-05)

Part of the developing story: [Nvidia's Billion Dollar AI Ecosystem Expansion](https://digestai.news/thread/nvidia-s-70-revenue-growth-outlook-explained-by-jensen-huang) (8 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Alibaba's Qwen reaches 2.4T parameters, Qwen 4 in training", 5 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/alibaba-s-qwen-reaches-2-4t-parameters-qwen-4-in-training

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