Alibaba Cloud has launched an English language version of Modelscope, its models-as-service platform. Modelscope, which was released in 2022, is similar to other services like Amazon Web Services' Bedrock and Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Studio. These platforms provide libraries of foundation models that can be easily integrated into applications built on their respective cloud hosts. Alibaba Cloud claims that since its launch, Modelscope has gained over five million developers as users and currently hosts more than 5, 000 models. The platform includes Alibaba Cloud's own "Qwen" models as well as models from Chinese startups. Additionally, it offers over 1, 500 high-quality Chinese-language datasets and various toolkits for data processing. While Modelscope was previously accessible from anywhere, Alibaba Cloud recognizes the importance of an English version. This is significant not only in the US, where the service was introduced in Seattle, but also in the target markets of Alibaba Cloud, such as South East Asia, where English is a commonly used second language and the language of commerce and technology. Alibaba Cloud is the third-largest cloud provider by revenue share in certain markets across Asia, competing with AWS and Azure.

However, it has yet to establish itself as a major player in other regions. Despite this, Alibaba Cloud operates numerous availability zones and offers a wide range of cloud services, including a highly regarded cloud-native database called Apsara. The company has also developed powerful CPUs for its servers and showcased advanced cloud engineering innovations, such as edge boxes using Intel ASICs to accelerate traffic and tiering technology that increases the capacity of its cloud hosts. Nevertheless, concerns about China's national security laws continue to affect perceptions of Alibaba Cloud. These laws require the sharing of information with Beijing upon request, leading some Western buyers to view Alibaba Cloud as having a higher risk profile than its competitors. As a result, adoption of the platform has been limited outside of China and Asia, with Alibaba Cloud's data centers in the West primarily serving Chinese clients. While Alibaba Cloud has not faced bans thus far, Chinese telcos providing cloud services, such as China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, have experienced significant restrictions on their activities in the US due to national security concerns. There are even reports suggesting that Washington may take further action against these telcos, fearing that their services and clouds could compromise the safety of US data. Given these factors, developers considering the English version of Modelscope may approach it with caution, despite its appealing models and datasets.