Generate Videos with Qwen

Alibaba’s Qwen AI models have gained significant attention for their impressive language and multimodal capabilities. Many users are now asking: can you use Qwen to generate AI videos? The answer involves understanding the different parts of Alibaba’s AI ecosystem and how they work together.

This guide provides a complete picture, focusing first on the experience of generating video through the Qwen Chat interface, explaining the powerful Tongyi Wanxiang (Wan2.1) technology that likely powers it, evaluating its performance with benchmarks, and showing you how to craft effective prompts for the best results.

Generating Video Directly Through Qwen Chat

The most direct way users attempt to generate video “with Qwen” is via the web-based Qwen Chat platform.

The Simple Workflow

When functional, the process is designed for ease of use:

1. Visit the Qwen Chat and log in.
2. Type a description of the video you envision into the chat input.
3. Select the “Video Generation” option (if available and active).
4. Submit your request. The system should process it and provide an AI-generated video clip.

This user-friendly approach makes complex video generation seem as simple as chatting.

Important: Current Reliability of this Feature

Despite the simple workflow, it’s crucial to know that the video generation feature within the public Qwen Chat interface is currently unreliable. Many users experience:

• The feature being disabled, marked “coming soon,” or entirely missing.
• Inconsistent video quality, sometimes significantly degraded compared to expectations or past results.
• Errors or abrupt limits preventing generation.

Therefore, while Qwen Chat is excellent for many AI tasks, relying on its built-in button for consistent video generation is not advisable at this time.

Understanding the Technology: Qwen Plans, Wanxiang Creates

So, if the Qwen Chat feature works sometimes, what’s actually making the video?

The Role of Qwen

The Qwen models you interact with in the chat (like Qwen 2.5, Qwen3) are primarily large language and multimodal models. Their strength lies in understanding your text prompt, processing context, and managing the conversation. They act as the intelligent interface or “planner.”

Introducing Tongyi Wanxiang / Wan2.1

The actual creation of the video pixels is almost certainly handled by Alibaba’s specialized generative vision models, part of the Tongyi Wanxiang family. The most prominent and powerful iteration is the Wan2.1 series. When you request a video via Qwen Chat, it’s likely interfacing with this Wanxiang/Wan2.1 engine in the background. Wanxiang is the “artist” that brings the visual idea to life.

Key Features of the Wan2.1 Engine

Understanding Wan2.1’s features explains the potential quality you might see (when Qwen Chat video works) and the quality achievable through more reliable methods:

• Open Source Core: Key Wan2.1 models are freely available (Apache 2.0 license), promoting accessibility.
• High-Quality Output: Capable of generating realistic, smooth, and coherent videos up to 1080p.
• Realistic Motion & Physics: Handles complex movements well and shows good adherence to physical principles.
• Unique Text-in-Video: Accurately renders both Chinese and English text within video scenes.
• Accessible 1.3B Model: A smaller version runs efficiently on consumer GPUs (~8GB VRAM).
• Versatility: Supports text-to-video (T2V), image-to-video (I2V), and first-last-frame-to-video (FLF2V).
• Optimized Speed: Designed for efficient generation compared to some competitors.

How Good is the Video Tech Associated with Qwen?

The quality of video generation hinges on the underlying engine (Wanxiang/Wan2.1). Its performance has been rigorously evaluated.

Wan2.1 VBench Benchmark Scores

Standardized tests like VBench assess AI video models comprehensively. Wan2.1 achieved impressive results, scoring around 85-86% overall in VBench evaluations near its release. This performance placed it at the top of the VBench leaderboard among publicly tested models at that time, highlighting its state-of-the-art capabilities. It stood out as a top-performing open-source model.

Wan2.1 vs. Sora vs. Veo

Here’s how the Wanxiang/Wan2.1 engine compared to other leading models in benchmark tests from that period:

Note on Rapid AI Evolution

AI capabilities advance constantly. While these benchmarks show Wan2.1’s proven power, always look for the latest model versions and comparisons.

Reliable Alternatives for High-Quality Video Generation

Given the unreliability of the Qwen Chat video button, if you want consistent results using Alibaba’s powerful video AI (the Wanxiang/Wan2.1 engine), consider these direct access methods:

Using Official Tongyi Wanxiang Demos

The best starting point for most users. Search for “Tongyi Wanxiang demo” or “Wan2.1 demo” to find official browser-based interfaces where you can test the technology reliably. Some platforms may offer free trial credits.

Accessing the Wan2.1 Open Source Models

For developers and technical users wanting full control, download the models directly from GitHub (repository: Wan-Video/Wan2.1) or Hugging Face (organization: Wan-AI). This requires technical setup but offers maximum flexibility.

Crafting Effective Prompts for Qwen / Wanxiang Video Generation

Whether you’re lucky with Qwen Chat or using a Wanxiang demo, your prompt is key.

Why Detailed Prompts Matter

The AI needs clear instructions. More detail helps it understand your vision and reduces generic or unexpected outputs.

Tips for Effective Video Prompts

1. Be Specific: Describe the subject, action, and setting clearly.
2. Use Vivid Language: Employ descriptive adjectives and adverbs.
3. Define the Style: Mention desired aesthetics (photorealistic, anime, cinematic, etc.).
4. Suggest Camera Details: Try adding shot types (close-up, wide) or movements (pan, zoom).
5. Keep it Coherent: Ensure the prompt elements make sense together.

Example Prompts for AI Video

• “Cinematic drone shot flying through a futuristic neon-lit city canyon during a gentle rain, reflections on wet streets, photorealistic 8K.”
• “A fluffy corgi puppy wearing tiny sunglasses, happily running on a sandy beach towards the viewer, shallow depth of field, sunny day, playful.”
• “Macro shot of a single raindrop falling onto a green leaf, creating ripples, ultra slow motion, detailed texture, peaceful atmosphere.”
• “Watercolor painting animation style, a charming European village square with people strolling, soft pastel colors, gentle movement.”

Using Qwen Chat Itself to Craft Better Prompts

Here’s a great way to use Qwen Chat: Ask it to write your video prompts! Describe your basic idea and ask Qwen Chat to generate several detailed, descriptive prompt options suitable for an AI video generator. It excels at this language task.

Conclusion: Generating Video in the Qwen Ecosystem

• Qwen Chat Interface: You interact with Qwen Chat (chat.qwen.ai). The built-in “Video Generation” button aims for simplicity but is currently unreliable.
• The Engine: The powerful video creation is done by Alibaba’s Tongyi Wanxiang / Wan2.1 technology, likely working behind the scenes. This engine has demonstrated top-tier, benchmark-validated performance.
• Reliable Generation: For consistent results, use official Tongyi Wanxiang demos or the Wan2.1 open-source models.
• Best Use of Qwen Chat: Leverage its powerful language skills to brainstorm ideas and write detailed prompts for any video generation tool.

By understanding this distinction, you can navigate the Qwen ecosystem effectively, utilizing the reliable methods to access Alibaba’s impressive video AI and using Qwen Chat strategically to enhance your creative process.