Alibaba's Wan team launched Wan2.5-Preview today, marking only the second AI model capable of generating synchronized audio alongside video output. This breakthrough positions the model as a direct competitor to Google's Veo 3 in the race to solve one of generative AI's most stubborn challenges: creating audio that naturally matches visual content.
Key advancement: The model's unified framework handles multimodal generation natively, eliminating the need to sync separate audio and video streams post-generation.
Preview access: Currently available through a paid API while the team collects feedback for the full release, which will include open training and inference code.
Extended output: Doubles video length from 5 to 10 seconds with 1080p HD quality.
Frame-Perfect Sync: The audio alignment breakthrough that matters
The standout feature isn't just another video model—it's Wan2.5-Preview's ability to generate synchronized audio directly within the video creation process. Previous approaches required separate audio generation followed by complex alignment workflows, often resulting in mismatched timing or unnatural combinations.
According to user feedback emerging on social platforms, early testers report "audio matches the visuals seamlessly" with improved understanding of complex prompts. This addresses a critical pain point for creators working on dialogue scenes, musical performances, or any content requiring precise audio-visual coordination.
The unified architecture differs from models like Runway's Gen-3 or Stable Video Diffusion, which excel at visual generation but require separate audio workflows. Only Google's Veo 3 has demonstrated similar native sync capabilities, making Wan2.5-Preview significant as the first alternative in this space.
Preview Access: Paid API now, open weights later
Alibaba is taking a feedback-driven approach. The current preview phase operates through a paid API while the team gathers user input for refinements.
The company has committed to releasing open training and inference code with the full version, positioning this as a more accessible alternative to Google's proprietary Veo 3. This open-source trajectory could accelerate adoption among independent creators and smaller studios who need customizable video generation without enterprise-level budgets.
ComfyUI users can access Wan2.5-Preview through newly released API nodes, though this integration remains secondary to the core audio-sync innovation driving industry attention.
Final Cut: Preview signals shift toward unified media generation
Wan2.5-Preview's launch represents more than another video model—it signals the industry moving toward unified media generation where audio, video, and potentially other modalities emerge from single prompts rather than assembled workflows.
The feedback-driven preview approach and commitment to open-source release could accelerate this transition, especially for creators who need customizable solutions beyond what closed platforms offer. While the 10-second limit and preview status require patience, the core sync audio breakthrough provides a foundation that future iterations can build upon.
