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simonw | on: Qwen3.8-Max: A New Bar for Coding and Cowork
> Today, we are officially releasing Qwen 3.8-Max, the most capable model in the Qwen family to date. This also marks the first time we will open-source the weights of a Qwen-Max-class model — the open weights will be released next week.

I don't understand. That's dated today, but:

https://twitter.com/alibaba_qwen/status/2078759124914098291

> Qwen3.8 is launching and going open-weight soon! [...] You don't have to wait to test it. Just now, the Qwen3.8-Max-Preview made its debut on Alibaba’s Token Plan, Qoder, and QoderWork.

That was on July 19th. I used it to draw this pelican: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Jul/20/afraid-of-chinese-mode...

So what are they releasing today?

bloomsa | parent | next
July 19th post mentions “Max-Preview” vs. today’s post dropping the “Preview”. Unclear what changed if anything though.. Maybe broader availability or it’s a slightly improved checkpoint
Jowsey | parent | next
My understanding is that these "preview" models are usually earlier RL checkpoints, and that "official release" happens when they're happy with the training run?

I believe they mentioned around the preview announcement that they'd be releasing improvements to capability, which I assume means continued training.

ignoramous | root | parent
In Qwen's case, both 3.8 Max releases seem rushed may be in response to Kimi K3 getting all that attention.

3.8 Max Preview ran 90% discount on QwenCloud exactly as when Moonshot couldn't keep up with all the signups.

simonw | parent | next
... other comments were right, this is the full qwen3.8-max model, two weeks ago was the qwen3.8-max-preview release.

Here's a pelican I just got out of the new model. It took 11 minutes and forgot the wheels! https://tools.simonwillison.net/markdown-svg-renderer#url=ht... (scroll to bottom)

The reasoning trace is pretty great:

> More additions: basket with fish in it? Cute detail — a fish poking out of a basket on the handlebars! This adds charm and pelican context.

If the price is $2/$6 that cost me 17 cents: https://www.llm-prices.com/#it=90&ot=29734&ic=2&oc=6

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telemaxs | parent
they releasing Max.