Alibaba Group has quietly made a strong statement in the fast-evolving AI race, with its new video generation model HappyHorse 1.0 overtaking rival systems to become the world’s top-ranked tool in its category.
The model has surpassed ByteDance’s Seedance 2.0, previously considered one of the most advanced AI video tools globally, according to rankings by Artificial Analysis. The development underlines how aggressively Chinese tech firms are competing, not just on technology but also on talent.
HappyHorse Takes Top Spot in Global Rankings
HappyHorse 1.0, which is currently still being tested internally, ranks as the number one solution worldwide for video creation based on text or image input. These rankings are derived from real-world performance comparisons (from a subjective point of view) that are frequently recalibrated to show the actual quality of the videos they produced.
As a result of these rankings, Alibaba has surpassed not only Seedance 2.0 but also other leading competitors such as Kuaishou’s Kling AI models that have gained considerable usage across several industry segments (including content and entertainment).
The development of the project was executed through Alibaba Token Hub (ATH), Alibaba’s newly created division dedicated to developing products with an AI focus.
Zhang Di’s Return Adds to the Buzz
The spotlight has also shifted to Zhang Di, the key figure behind the HappyHorse project. After spending five years away, Zhang rejoined Alibaba in November and led the development for several months.
His return was already being closely tracked within the industry. Zhang had previously played a major role at Kuaishou, where he worked on large language models and multimodal AI systems, helping lay the foundation for the company’s Kling AI tools.
Before that, he spent a decade at Alibaba, building expertise in big data and machine learning architecture. His brief stint at Bilibili before returning to Alibaba only added to his profile as one of the key AI engineers in China’s tech ecosystem.
AI Talent War Heating Up in China
HappyHorse’s rise is not just about rankings. It reflects a broader shift in China’s tech industry, where companies are actively competing to attract and retain top AI talent.
Zhang’s move back to Alibaba is part of a larger trend, with firms like ByteDance, Kuaishou, and others investing heavily in hiring engineers capable of building next-generation AI models.
The competition is intensifying as generative AI becomes central to platforms ranging from short video apps to enterprise cloud services.
Despite topping global benchmarks, HappyHorse still faces real-world competition. Seedance 2.0, for instance, already has strong adoption across China’s entertainment and creative sectors, giving ByteDance an edge in deployment and scale.
Alibaba is expected to make HappyHorse available via API access from April 30, allowing enterprise users to integrate the model through cloud platforms. The move mirrors how ByteDance distributes Seedance through its Volcano Engine.
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