Huawei's AI lab denies that one of its Pangu models copied Alibaba's Qwen
BEIJING/SHANGHAI: Huawei's artificial intelligence research division has rejected claims that a version of its Pangu Pro large language model has copied elements from an Alibaba model, saying that it was independently developed and trained.
The division, called Noah Ark Lab, issued the statement on July 5, a day after an entity called HonestAGI posted an English-language paper on code-sharing platform Github, saying Huawei's Pangu Pro Moe (Mixture of Experts) model showed "extraordinary correlation" with Alibaba's Qwen 2.5 14B.
This suggests that Huawei's model was derived through "upcycling" and was not trained from scratch, the paper said, prompting widespread discussion in AI circles online and in Chinese tech-focused media.
The paper added that its findings indicated potential copyright violation, the fabrication of information in technical reports and false claims about Huawei's investment in training the model.
Noah Ark Lab said in its statement that the model was "not based on incremental training of other manufacturers' models" and that it had "made key innovations in architecture design and technical features." It is the first large-scale model built entirely on Huawei's Ascend chips, it added.
It also said that its development team had strictly adhered to open-source license requirements for any third-party code used, without elaborating which open-source models it took reference from.
Alibaba did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters was unable to contact HonestAGI or learn who is behind the entity.
The release of Chinese startup DeepSeek's open-source model R1 in January this year shocked Silicon Valley with its low cost and sparked intense competition between China's tech giants to offer competitive products.
Qwen 2.5-14B was released in May 2024 and is one of Alibaba's small-sized Qwen 2.5 model family which can be deployed on PC and smartphones.
While Huawei entered the large language model arena early with its original Pangu release in 2021, it has since been perceived as lagging behind rivals. It open-sourced its Pangu Pro Moe models on Chinese developer platform GitCode in late June, seeking to boost the adoption of its AI tech by providing free access to developers.
While Qwen is more consumer-facing and has chatbot services like ChatGPT, Huawei's Pangu models tend to be more used in government as well as the finance and manufacturing sectors. – Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
SenseRobot Debuts at AI for Good Global Summit 2025, Showcasing China's AI Innovations to the World
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 10 July 2025 - At the esteemed United Nations-led AI for Good Global Summit 2025, SenseRobot President Mark Ma delivered an insightful session titled 'How Chess-Inspired AI Can Empower Human Learning.' The presentation marked SenseRobot's debut on such a prestigious global United Nations platform; it served as a significant global showcase of China's original AI technologies, reflecting the depth, wisdom, and ethical dimensions intrinsic to Chinese innovation. How AI Enhances Learning, Family Bonds, and Inclusion—Not Replaces Them In his engaging address, Mark raised a Central question: Can AI truly replace human learning, or can it deepen it? Drawing inspiration from chess, Mark demonstrated how SenseRobot effectively employs AI-powered robots to support cognitive development among young learners, foster meaningful intergenerational connections within families, and promote inclusive engagement for people with disabilities. Mark emphasized that AI technology integrates mathematical precision, strategic reasoning, and accumulated human insight, resulting in a form of artificial intelligence deeply embedded in human experience and ethics. Highlighting the landmark accomplishments of AlphaGo alongside SenseRobot's practical use in educational and familial settings, he emphasized a transformative shift: perceiving AI not as a replacement, but as a collaborative ally in human development. The accompanying exhibition at the summit prominently showcased SenseRobot's advanced technological capabilities, drawing widespread interest from attendees and international media alike. Featured products included the SenseRobot Chess Edition, the Go Edition, and the innovative two-in-one Chess-Go Robot, each demonstrating remarkable technical strengths such as millimeter-level robotic arm precision, high accuracy AI vision algorithms (99.9% recognition accuracy), and sophisticated hand-eye coordination. SenseRobot also exhibited its multi-level AI competence and its advanced Apex Duel mode, surpassing human champion-level chess performance. From China to the World: SenseRobot's Mission for Ethical, Human-Centered Technology SenseRobot's influential presence at the AI for Good Conference marked a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. Already active in more than 20 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America, SenseRobot exemplifies China's dedication to equitable education, cultural dialogue, and inclusive technology adoption worldwide. Looking ahead, SenseRobot continues to pursue its vision of human-centered technology. By blending innovation with tradition, data with empathy, and robotics with ethics, SenseRobot embodies a pioneering narrative in AI: technology created by people, designed for people's enrichment.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Indonesia, US eye wider critical minerals partnership after 'positive' meeting, top negotiator says
JAKARTA: Indonesia's meeting with United States representatives in Washington on the looming tariffs went "positively", its chief negotiator said on Thursday, with both countries exploring a wider partnership in the critical minerals sector. Southeast Asia's largest economy, Indonesia is facing a 32 per cent tariff imposed by the US from Aug 1, highlighting its strategic importance in global trade to lower it. Chief negotiator and economic minister Airlangga Hartarto told Reuters that he met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Wednesday. Airlangga's ministry said on Thursday that the talk covered tariffs, non-tariff barriers and commercial partnerships, adding that both countries will intensify talks over the next three weeks. "We already have a similar understanding with the US regarding the talks. In the future, we will make an effort to wrap up these negotiations on the principle of mutual benefit," Airlangga said in the statement. Indonesia and the United States are eyeing a wider partnership in the former's critical minerals sector, with Airlangga's ministry citing the country's large reserves of nickel, copper and cobalt. G20 economy Indonesia is a major producer of metals such as nickel, tin and copper, and is also the world's biggest exporter of palm oil. In the tariff talks, Indonesia has proposed slashing its duties on American products to near zero and offered to increase US purchases and investment in the country, amounting to a value of about US$34 billion.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Chile, Mexico look to new markets ahead of Trump copper tariffs
SANTIAGO/MEXICO CITY: Top officials in Chile and Mexico said on Wednesday they could seek markets elsewhere to avoid tariffs from the US administration, a day after President Donald Trump said he would soon announce a 50 per cent tariff on the red metal. Mexico and Chile export the bulk of their copper to China. "Chilean copper will keep finding new markets," Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren told a press conference, after President Gabriel Boric said earlier in the day that he had yet to hear from the US and called for official communication. "Clearly these measures worry us," van Klaveren added, pointing to market uncertainty on global supply flows. "The US is going to keep needing copper because the US doesn't have the capacity to replace the copper it imports from Chile and other countries," he told the conference. Chile is the single biggest copper supplier to the US, a market that makes up about 11 per cent of its total copper exports, and less than seven per cent of its refined copper exports. Boric said he was awaiting official communication from the US government, including whether the tariffs would include copper cathodes, and questioned "whether this will actually be implemented or not". Chile's Mining Minister Aurora Williams told Reuters it was too early to say whether Chile would request an exemption. Copper imports account for nearly half of the metal consumed in the United States, whose government is seeking to build up domestic production. Chile is the United States' top refined copper supplier, while Mexico ranks fifth. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a morning press conference that Mexico could redirect the copper it typically sends to the US to avoid tariffs. She noted that Mexican officials would be in Washington on Friday for previously planned talks on trade, security and immigration. "Copper is needed in many places around the world, so there are some options there," she said in her daily press conference in Mexico City. "Our responsibility is to seek the best possible negotiation with the US and at the same time look for other options for national production and exports to other destinations." Copper is considered an economic bellwether commodity due to its widespread use across construction and infrastructure sectors.
