Tencent T1: China’s Bold New AI Model Taking on OpenAI and DeepSeek

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, Tencent has made a powerful entry with its new model, Hunyuan T1 (or T1). Positioned as a direct competitor to DeepSeek’s R1 and OpenAI’s GPT-4 (also known as 01), T1 offers faster performance, stronger reasoning, and impressive benchmark scores—all while maintaining aggressive, user-friendly pricing. With China becoming a powerhouse in the global AI race, Tencent’s bold strategy could reshape the AI landscape in 2025 and beyond.

In this blog, we break down everything you need to know about Tencent’s T1 model, its performance, pricing, and what makes it a real contender in the world of generative AI.

What is Tencent T1?

Tencent T1, also known as Hunyuan Thinker 1, is the latest AI reasoning model from Chinese tech giant Tencent. Known for WeChat and gaming titles like Honor of Kings, Tencent is no stranger to scaling digital experiences—and now it’s taking on AI in a big way.

T1 was officially launched in 2025 after a limited preview through Tencent’s chatbot Yuanbao. The official version features:

• Faster response times

• Minimal hallucination

• Cleaner, clearer output

• Advanced reasoning and long-text handling

T1 vs R1 vs OpenAI 01: Benchmark Performance

Tencent’s T1 is already performing impressively against the best models on the market:

• MMLU Pro Score:

  • T1: 87.2

  • R1: 84

  • OpenAI 01: 89.3

• AIME 2024 (Math Exam):

  • T1: 78.2

  • R1: 79.8

  • OpenAI 01: 79.2

• C-Eval (Chinese test suite):

  • T1: 91.8

  • R1: 91.8

  • OpenAI 01: 87.8

T1’s strength in both English and Chinese tests makes it especially valuable for multilingual or global applications.

Additional Scores:

• LiveCodeBench (Code tasks): 64.9

• Math 500 (Advanced math): 96.2

• GPQA Diamond (Science Q&A): 69.3

• Arena-Hard (Alignment test): 91.9

Innovative Architecture: The Mamba Advantage

T1 uses a new Hybrid Transformer-Mamba architecture. This combines Google’s transformer efficiency with a Mamba design to drastically cut down on memory usage.

Benefits:

• 200% increase in decoding speed

• Handles longer contexts with less computing power

• Uses 96.7% of compute for reinforcement learning, leading to smarter outputs over time

This self-rewarding, curriculum-based learning is what sets T1 apart in problem-solving and generative tasks.

Aggressive Pricing Strategy

Pricing can make or break adoption—and Tencent knows that. Here’s a quick comparison of token costs:

T1’s pricing is more consistent and cost-effective—especially for enterprise users generating large volumes of text during the day.

T1’s Role in Tencent’s AI Ecosystem

Tencent is betting big on AI. In 2024, they spent over $7 billion on AI infrastructure, including:

• Data centers

• GPUs and servers

• AI-powered ad systems

• Expansion of their Yuanbao chatbot

They’re also running a “double-core” strategy—offering both T1 and DeepSeek’s R1 in Yuanbao. This move gives users flexibility while keeping Tencent at the forefront of AI adoption in China.

Why T1 Matters in the Global AI Race

While OpenAI has led the Western AI wave, China is rapidly catching up:

• Alibaba: $52.6 billion investment in AI and cloud

• ByteDance (TikTok): Over $20.7 billion allocated to AI in 2025

• Tencent: 12% of its revenue now goes into AI R&D

T1 could be the game-changer for Tencent just like R1 was for DeepSeek. With faster response times, competitive pricing, and real-time deployment in products like WeChat, T1 is positioned to shape the future of AI-powered user experiences.

FAQs

What is the Tencent T1 model?

T1 is Tencent’s latest AI reasoning model built using hybrid Transformer-Mamba architecture for faster, more efficient, and accurate generative responses.

How does T1 compare to OpenAI and DeepSeek?

It performs close to OpenAI’s 01 and outperforms DeepSeek R1 in several benchmarks, especially in Chinese language tasks and science reasoning.

Is T1 available for public use?

Yes, T1 is integrated into Tencent’s Yuanbao chatbot and available through Tencent Cloud services.

Why is T1 priced competitively?

Tencent wants to attract developers and businesses by offering low-cost, high-performance AI solutions, rivaling DeepSeek’s aggressive pricing.

What’s special about the Mamba architecture?

It significantly improves decoding speed and memory efficiency, making T1 ideal for large-scale applications.

Will T1 support enterprise tools?

Yes, T1 is expected to be integrated into Tencent Cloud and WeChat business tools, including ad systems and analytics.

Does T1 support multilingual input?

T1 performs well in both English and Chinese, making it suitable for global and bilingual applications.

Is reinforcement learning important in T1?

Yes, T1 dedicates over 96% of its compute to reinforcement learning, making it better at handling logic, math, and real-world reasoning.

Will T1 replace DeepSeek R1 in Yuanbao?

No, Tencent uses both T1 and R1 as part of a dual-core model to offer the best user experience.

Is T1 good for scientific and coding tasks?

Absolutely. With high scores on Math 500 and GPQA, T1 shows strong scientific and logic-based capabilities.

Conclusion

Tencent’s T1 model is not just another large language model—it’s a bold statement. With groundbreaking architecture, solid performance, and accessible pricing, T1 has carved out its place in the high-stakes AI race of 2025. Whether you’re a developer, business leader, or tech enthusiast, this is one model to watch closely.