Alibaba Releases Wan 2.1: A Powerful Open-Source AI Model for Video Generation and Automation

Alibaba recently announced the public release of Wan 2.1, its latest open-source AI model designed for advanced video generation tasks. Officially launched in February 2025, Wan 2.1 is now freely available under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing developers and businesses worldwide to leverage its capabilities without restrictions. 

What is Wan 2.1?

Wan 2.1 - is a large language model for video generation that interacts with both text prompts and image prompts. According to independent evaluations using the VBench benchmark suite, Wan 2.1 achieves an overall score of approximately 84.7%, placing it among the top-performing AI video generation models globally. 

Experts highlight its strengths in dynamic motion quality, spatial relationships, and multi-object interactions, making it ideal for complex video generation tasks.

Additionally, Wan 2.1 introduces several notable enhancements, including multilingual support for advanced text effects in both Chinese and English, and compatibility with over 100 artistic styles. Optimized for consumer-grade GPUs, the model can generate a five-second 480p video in under four minutes using an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for professional-quality video creation.

Key Features and Benchmark Performance of Wan 2.1

Wan 2.1 offers a comprehensive set of multimedia generation features, enabling users to create high-quality videos efficiently. Its core functionalities include:

• Text-to-Video (T2V): Converts textual descriptions into coherent, visually engaging videos.
• Image-to-Video (I2V): Animates static images into smooth video sequences at resolutions up to 720p.
• Video Editing: Allows precise editing of existing videos using text or image references.
• Text-to-Image (T2I): Generates detailed images directly from text prompts.
• Video-to-Audio (V2A): Extracts and generates audio tracks from video content.

Benchmark data from the VBench evaluation clearly demonstrates Wan 2.1's competitive advantage. For example, the model shows better results compared to Sore and other models in terms of the share of human artifacts, spatial position accuracy, and camera control. 

These metrics confirm Wan 2.1's ability to deliver professional-grade video content quickly and efficiently, even on widely available hardware.

Beyond raw performance, Wan 2.1's open-source encourages innovation and customization. Developers can freely adapt the model to specific use cases, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that accelerates advancements in AI-driven multimedia generation.

Integrating Wan 2.1 into Automated Workflows with Latenode

Latenode is a powerful no-code/low-code automation platform designed to simplify complex workflows by seamlessly connecting AI models, productivity tools, CRM systems, and databases. By integrating Wan 2.1 into Latenode via API, businesses can automate video creation processes, reducing manual effort and enhancing productivity.

Here are three practical scenarios demonstrating how Wan 2.1 can be effectively integrated into automated workflows using Latenode:

Blog-to-Video Social Media Automation

Automatically create engaging social media videos from new blog posts, increasing audience reach and engagement.

• Trigger: New blog post published (HubSpot)
• ChatGPT generates a short prompt for a promotional video based on the blog summary
• Action: Wan 2.1 generates a video based on this prompt
• Action: Automatically posts the video to social media channels (LinkedIn)

Automated Product Feature Demo Videos

Instantly produce clear, engaging product demo videos from textual feature descriptions, streamlining internal knowledge sharing.

• Trigger: New product feature documented (Notion)
• Action: Wan 2.1 generates a dynamic video illustrating the feature
• Action: Automatically uploads the video to internal knowledge base (Like Notion) 
• Action: Notifies the team via Slack

Latenode makes it easy to integrate Wan 2.1 into your existing workflows, enabling you to automate complex multimedia tasks without coding expertise. Ready to experience the benefits of AI-driven video automation? Join Latenode today, explore powerful Wan 2.1 integrations, and start streamlining your business processes immediately.