Tech Brief (Aug. 11): Alibaba Opens Qwen Platform to Outside Developers in Push to Build AI-Agent Ecosystem

Published: Aug. 11, 2026 11:16 a.m. GMT+8

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Alibaba opens Qwen platform to outside developers

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. on Monday launched an open platform for its AI model Qwen, allowing third-party developers to build custom AI agents across mobile phones, personal computers and smart glasses. The first group of partners on the Qianwen Open Platform spans more than 10 sectors, including logistics, real estate and wealth management. Participants include SF Express, home-rental platform Ziroom and Midea Group. Alibaba’s own services, including logistics arm Cainiao and the Quark search app, are also integrated, adding functions such as smart mailing and file management. The platform allows third-party companies to build AI agents that users can access directly within the Qwen app. Unlike conventional apps, these agents are designed to use reasoning and memory to process more complex requests.

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Alibaba opens Qwen platform for third-party AI agents, integrating Cainiao and Quark.
Unitree Robotics IPO has 0.02% to 0.05% retail allotment odds; 13,000 winning lots.
SK Hynix considers options for $3 billion Chongqing plant; TSMC July revenue up 44.7% to $14.5 billion; CXMT added to MSCI China All Shares Index as second largest.

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Who’s Who

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What Happened When

July 2026：: TSMC reported a record-high monthly revenue of NT$467.6 billion ($14.5 billion) in July 2026, up 44.7% year-on-year, with cumulative revenue from January to July 2026 reaching NT$2.9 trillion, up 37% from previous year.

August 7, 2026：: Bloomberg reported that SK Hynix is exploring disposal options, including bringing in investors, for its Chongqing facility valued at about $3 billion.

August 11, 2026：: Alibaba Group launched Qianwen Open Platform for its AI model Qwen, allowing third-party developers to build custom AI agents.

August 11, 2026：: Unitree Robotics opened subscriptions for its Shanghai IPO, with retail investors facing 0.02% to 0.05% chance of winning shares.

August 11, 2026：: SK Hynix filed to the Korea Exchange stating it is evaluating options to enhance competitiveness of packaging business, noting no specific details have been determined and may disclose further information within a month.

August 11, 2026：: CXMT Corp. was officially included in the MSCI China All Shares Index, with stock closing at 51.3 yuan per share and market capitalization of 3.4 trillion yuan, becoming the second-largest constituent by market cap after Tencent.

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