Alibaba's Qwen team released Qwen-Image-2512, an open-source AI image model, as an alternative to Google's proprietary Nano Banana Pro (aka Gemini 3 Pro Image), on December 31, 2025. The release provides developers and enterprises with a freely available option for commercial use under the Apache 2.0 license, according to VentureBeat.

The launch addresses concerns about the limitations of Google's Gemini 3 Pro Image, which, while capable of generating complex, text-heavy visuals with high accuracy, is deeply integrated with Google's cloud infrastructure and comes with premium pricing. This poses challenges for organizations requiring predictable costs, data sovereignty, or regional localization.

Google's Nano Banana Pro, released in November, had set a new standard for AI image generation, particularly in creating enterprise-grade visuals such as infographics and slides, noted Carl Franzen of VentureBeat. However, its proprietary nature restricted its accessibility and usability for some users.

Qwen-Image-2512 aims to bridge this gap by offering a powerful, open-source alternative. The model is accessible to consumers through Qwen Chat, and its full open-source weights are available on platforms like Hugging Face and ModelScope, allowing for inspection and modification.

The availability of Qwen-Image-2512 marks a significant development in the AI landscape, potentially democratizing access to advanced image generation capabilities. By offering an open-source solution, Alibaba's Qwen team provides enterprises with greater control over their AI deployments and fosters innovation within the broader AI community. The Qwen team has had a successful year with numerous open source AI model releases.