Alibaba’s Qwen 3.8 Open-Source Launch & China’s AI Safety Initiatives Lead Global Tech Updates

Alibaba Group is set to launch its latest large language model, Qwen 3.8, as an open-source offering, according to reports on July 19. Industry insiders suggest this model could rank among the most powerful globally, second only to Claude Fable 5. The tech giant, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HK09988) with a market capitalization of HK$2.16 trillion, aims to make advanced AI accessible to a broader audience through open-sourcing.

At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai on July 19, the Frontier AI and Intelligent Agent Safety Forum brought together over 20 global experts and policymakers. They jointly released five key research outcomes in AI safety, covering technical tools, hierarchical norms, emergency response plans, and industry-wide trend analysis. These outputs form a comprehensive framework for managing AI risks and promoting responsible governance.

On the same day, the China Earthquake Administration unveiled the "AI + Earthquake Prevention and Mitigation Action Plan (2026-2028)" at the Earthquake AI Forum in Shanghai. The three-year plan focuses on nine core tasks, including developing intelligent earthquake monitoring systems and advanced early warning technologies. It aims to build a four-in-one system integrating data, models, platforms, and applications, with the goal of fully leveraging AI to support earthquake-related services by 2028.

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) data released on July 20 highlights China's leading position in the global robot industry. The country now has over 400 humanoid robot models—accounting for more than half of the world's total—and its quadruped robots hold nearly 70% of the global market share. MIIT also announced plans to issue an "AI + Software" action plan and a guide for building a computing power standard system, which will include market-oriented pricing standards for computing resources.

In related market news, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is considering extending stock trading hours by removing the midday break, as reported on July 20. This move could enhance market efficiency and align with global trading practices.

Sources

• Alibaba Group (HK09988)
• CCTV News
• China Earthquake Administration
• Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
• Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)