What’s next for Chinese open-source AI

When What’s closed its latest funding round, the valuation didn’t just set a new benchmark for the company—it signaled a broader shift in how investors are betting on artificial intelligence. The numbers tell one story, but the implications reach far beyond the balance sheet.

“The AI landscape is shifting faster than most organizations can adapt. What we’re seeing from What’s represents a meaningful step forward in how these technologies are being developed and deployed.” — Industry Analyst

The Funding Landscape

MIT Technology Review’s What’s Next series looks across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here. The past year has marked a turning point for Chinese AI. Since DeepSeek released its R1 reasoning model in January 2025, Chinese companies have repeatedly delivered AI…

The development comes at a pivotal moment for the AI industry. Companies across the sector are racing to differentiate their offerings while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment. For What’s, this move represents both an opportunity and a challenge.

What the Numbers Reveal

Market positioning has become increasingly critical as the AI sector matures. What’s is clearly signaling its intent to compete at the highest level, investing resources in capabilities that could define the next phase of the industry’s evolution.

Competitive dynamics are also shifting. Rivals will likely need to respond with their own announcements, potentially triggering a wave of activity across the sector. The question isn’t whether others will follow—it’s how quickly and at what scale.

Enterprise adoption remains the ultimate test. As organizations move beyond experimental phases to production deployments, they’re demanding concrete returns on AI investments. What’s’s latest move appears designed to address exactly that demand.

“We’re past the hype cycle now. Companies that can demonstrate real value—measurable, repeatable, scalable value—are the ones that will define the next decade of AI.” — Venture Capital Partner

The Investor Calculus

Industry observers are watching closely to see how this strategy plays out. Several key questions remain unanswered: How will competitors respond? What does this mean for pricing and accessibility in the funding space? Will this accelerate enterprise adoption?

The coming months will reveal whether What’s can deliver on its promises. In a market where announcements often outpace execution, the real test will be what happens after the initial buzz fades.

For now, one thing is clear: What’s has made its move. The rest of the industry is watching to see what happens next.

This article was reported by the ArtificialDaily editorial team. For more information, visit MIT Technology Review.