- New multimodal system targets commercial video production use cases
- Pricing undercuts rivals as platform expands creator tools
Alibaba has begun limited testing of its latest AI video generation model, HappyHorse 1.0, as it expands into multimodal content creation tools for professional users and consumers.
The model, introduced on April 27 as part of so-called “gray testing,” is available to selected global creators and enterprise clients via its official website and cloud platform Bailian.
Gray testing refers to a staged deployment of a new product or feature to a small, controlled group of users before a full public launch.
During this period, general users, can access it through the Qwen App. Video generation is priced at 0.9 yuan ($0.13) per second for 720P output, with 1080P priced at 1.6 yuan per second, Alibaba said.
Subscription discounts reduce costs to as low as 0.44 yuan and 0.78 yuan per second respectively.
HappyHorse 1.0 supports up to 15-second multi-shot video generation with different aspect ratios and 1080P upscaling.
Built on a cloud-native multimodal architecture, the system generates audio and video simultaneously, targeting use cases such as advertising, e-commerce, short dramas and social media content.
The model emphasizes visual quality, including lighting effects, camera movement and scene transitions, and can render elements such as skin texture, smoke and water effects.
It supports cinematic techniques including zoom, depth-of-field changes and varied shot compositions, and can synchronize dialogue and environmental sound.
During internal testing, creators produced videos in styles ranging from Hong Kong television dramas to historical epics and vintage film aesthetics, with the model capable of generating multi-shot sequences from simple text prompts.
Alibaba has also launched a creator recruitment initiative, “The First 100,” to attract early users globally.
Additional features are expected to roll out within the Qwen app, including interactive video tools that allow users to generate short drama clips featuring themselves based on uploaded images, as well as a creator challenge campaign starting April 28.
Alibaba said earlier that API commercialization for HappyHorse 1.0 is expected to begin in May, though the specific timeline hasn’t been disclosed yet.
