Reflection AI to release open-weight model aimed at DeepSeek and Qwen

Reflection AI is preparing to release an open-weight foundation model meant to compete with DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen, the Chinese models that have spent the past stretch running laps around Western rivals in the open-source world. According to an Axios report dated October 4, 2026, the model is expected to arrive this month. It is pitched as a match for the best Chinese open-weight systems. What Reflection is building An open-weight model is one whose trained parameters are published, so outside developers can download and run it on their own hardware. Per the Axios report, Reflection’s model is expected to stand toe-to-toe with the top Chinese offerings. It is also expected to initially trail the leading closed models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google. CEO Misha Laskin has described frontier models as being “kind of like rocket ships,” a nod to how much time it takes before they reach full capability. The money and the machines Reflection was founded in March 2024 by Laskin and Ioannis Antonoglou, both former researchers at Google DeepMind. The startup raised $2B at an $8B valuation in October 2025. Subsequent rounds have reportedly pushed that figure as high as more than $25 b...