Alibaba Launches AI Model Platform for Global Users

Alibaba Cloud has recently expanded its AI model repository, ModelScope, to English-speaking users, aiming to encourage more businesses and developers to harness its advanced generative AI models. Launched in 2022, ModelScope provides access to a diverse range of generative AI models developed by Alibaba, including its flagship open-source system, Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen). Previously, the platform was primarily available to users in Mainland China but has now attracted over five million users globally.

ModelScope operates similarly to platforms like Amazon's Bedrock and Hugging Face; however, it is distinctive in that it primarily features generative AI models trained on Chinese language datasets. The repository boasts an impressive collection of over 5,000 models, including contributions from other Chinese AI firms such as Baichuan Intelligence and its Baichuan model, as well as the Qingyan chatbot system by Zhipu. While some models can also be found on platforms like Hugging Face, Alibaba Cloud is incentivizing developers to engage with ModelScope by offering an extensive suite of tools for building and refining AI models. This includes access to approximately 1,500 Chinese-language datasets and robust data processing toolkits, which facilitate the creation of customized AI solutions.

Developers also have the flexibility to upload their own models to ModelScope, enhancing the platform's collaborative nature. With the introduction of various modules on ModelScope, developers can streamline their model inference, training, and evaluation processes with just a few lines of code, making the development cycle more efficient and user-friendly.

The English-language launch of ModelScope signifies a larger trend of open-source initiatives by Alibaba and its cloud division, focusing on democratizing access to cutting-edge AI technologies. Additionally, the platform recently introduced ModelScopeGPT, a framework designed to assist developers in creating multimodal AI models, further enriching the resources available through the repository.

It's worth noting that the Chinese models featured on ModelScope had to undergo approval by the country’s internet regulatory authority before they were publicly released, ensuring compliance with local regulations and standards. With this expansion to English users, ModelScope is poised to empower a broader development community, driving innovation and collaboration in the field of generative AI.