Highlights:

• ByteDance launches Seedream 5.0 with advanced image editing and lower pricing.
  
• Alibaba unveils Qwen-Image-2.0, supporting 1K-token prompts and 2K images.
  
• Both models directly challenge Google’s Nano Banana Pro amid rising US-China AI rivalry.

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China’s tech giants are accelerating the global AI race. ByteDance and Alibaba Cloud have introduced new image-generation models designed to compete with Google’s Nano Banana Pro.

The launches highlight growing competition between China and the United States in creative AI tools. Both companies aim to lower costs while improving performance for businesses and individual creators.

ByteDance’s Seedream 5.0 is now available for beta testing on Jimeng in China and on CapCut globally. The company says the model has stronger reasoning skills and a better understanding of complex prompts.

It allows users to edit specific parts of an image without regenerating the entire design. In one test, a “snowy night” scene was created and later modified by switching lights on and off, while keeping the rest unchanged.

The launch follows ByteDance’s recent Seedance 2.0 AI video model, which focuses on realistic AI-generated videos.

Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen-Image-2.0 combines image generation and editing in a single system. It supports up to 1,000-token prompts and produces 2K-resolution images.

The model can handle structured layouts, multi-panel designs, and consistent characters across scenes. It also performs strongly in rendering Chinese text and complex calligraphy.

Together, these launches position both firms as serious global competitors in AI-powered creative tools.

Major Features Compared:

Feature	ByteDance Seedream 5.0	Alibaba Qwen-Image 2.0	Google Nano Banana Pro
Developer	ByteDance	Alibaba Cloud (Qwen team)	Google DeepMind (Gemini)
Core Function	Text-to-image generation + editing	Unified image generation + editing	Image generation + advanced editing
Native Output Resolution	Supports 2K and 4K outputs	Native 2K (2048×2048) output	Up to 4K resolution output
Prompt Handling	Designed for detailed prompt understanding	Supports long prompts (up to ~1K tokens)	Advanced prompt-based generation (no official token limit stated)
Text Rendering	Generates legible text within images	Strong typography and structured text rendering	Advanced multilingual text rendering
Generation + Editing Integration	Supports selective image edits	Generation and editing integrated in one model	Integrated image creation and editing tools
Availability	Beta testing via Jimeng (China) and CapCut (global)	Available via Qwen platforms	Available through Gemini apps and Google AI tools
Model Base / Engine	Proprietary Seedream model	Qwen multimodal architecture	Built on Gemini 3 Pro Image

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(via)

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