Alibaba-backed Moonshot releases new AI model Kimi K2 Thinking

Chinese startup Moonshot on Thursday released its latest generative artificial intelligence model which claims to beat OpenAI’s ChatGPT in “agentic” capabilities — or understanding what a user wants without explicit step-by-step instructions.

The model, called “Kimi K2 Thinking,” builds on the K2 model released in July by Beijing-based Moonshot, which is backed by Alibaba.

The update comes as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang this week again urged the U.S. to press ahead in a race against Chinese-developed AI. Some major U.S. companies such as Airbnb have begun to publicly tout how some Chinese AI models are as viable — and often cheaper — alternatives to OpenAI’s.

Despite U.S. restrictions on Chinese businesses’ access to high-end chips, companies such as DeepSeek have released AI models that are open sourced and with user fees a fraction of ChatGPT’s.

DeepSeek also claimed it spent $5.6 million for its V3 model — in contrast to the billions spent by OpenAI.

The Kimi K2 Thinking model cost $4.6 million to train, according to a source familiar with the matter.

It can automatically select 200 to 300 tools to complete tasks on its own, reducing the need for human intervention according to Moonshot. CNBC was unable to independently verify the DeepSeek or Kimi figures. DeepSeek last month released a new AI model that claims to improve performance by using visual clues to expand the context of information it is processing at once.