Happy New Year Message to Qwen Team Sparks Debate on Tone in Tech Communications

Happy New Year Message to Qwen Team Sparks Debate on Tone in Tech Communications

A lighthearted New Year’s greeting posted on Reddit’s r/StableDiffusion community has unexpectedly become a focal point in ongoing discussions about communication norms within the global artificial intelligence development ecosystem. The post, authored by user /u/andy_potato, read: "Dear QWEN Team - Happy New Year!" followed by appreciation for the team’s contributions to open-source AI and well-wishes for the Year of the Horse. While the message was intended as a warm, community-driven gesture, it has since triggered a broader conversation among linguists, developers, and tech ethicists about the use of the word "dear" in professional digital correspondence.

According to Merriam-Webster and Cambridge Dictionary, the term "dear" carries dual connotations: it is both a term of endearment—used to describe someone beloved, as in "Annie’s such a dear"—and a conventional salutation in personal and semi-formal letters. Its use in digital contexts, particularly in technical communities, often straddles the line between familiarity and professionalism. English Recap, in a January 2024 analysis, noted that while "Dear" remains the most common opening in business emails, alternatives such as "Hello," "Hi there," or "Greetings" are increasingly preferred in tech-forward environments to avoid perceived over-familiarity or gendered assumptions.

The Qwen team, developed by Alibaba’s Tongyi Lab, has gained international recognition for its open-weight large language models, which are widely used by researchers, startups, and hobbyists globally. The Reddit post, which garnered over 12,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments, was largely met with appreciation. Many users echoed the sentiment, with replies such as "This is the kind of community spirit that keeps open source alive" and "Thank you for making AI accessible!" However, a subset of commenters questioned whether the use of "Dear" was too informal for a corporate-backed AI team. "Is this a personal thank-you note or a formal acknowledgment?" asked one user. "If we’re celebrating open-source contributions, let’s keep the tone consistent with academic or industry standards."

Linguistic experts suggest that the ambiguity stems from cultural differences in communication styles. In Western contexts, "Dear" can feel overly sentimental or outdated in digital spaces, while in many East Asian professional cultures—including China, where Qwen was developed—it remains a respectful and traditional form of address. "The term 'dear' in Chinese correspondences often translates to a polite honorific, not necessarily an emotional one," notes Dr. Lena Zhang, a sociolinguist at Stanford University. "What reads as quaint to one culture may read as courteous to another."

Meanwhile, the open-source community continues to thrive on such personal interactions. Unlike proprietary AI labs, open-weight models like Qwen rely heavily on grassroots support, feedback, and volunteer contributions. The emotional resonance of the message may have been more impactful than any corporate press release. "These aren’t just users—they’re collaborators," says open-source advocate Marcus Chen. "When someone takes the time to write a New Year’s note, it’s not about grammar. It’s about recognition."

As AI development becomes increasingly global and decentralized, the incident underscores the need for nuanced communication frameworks that honor both professionalism and cultural diversity. Rather than policing tone, many argue that tech communities should embrace the humanity behind such messages. The Qwen team has not yet responded publicly, but the post remains archived as a symbol of the quiet, personal connections that sustain the open-source movement.

Ultimately, the debate isn’t about whether "Dear" is correct—it’s about whether we value warmth as much as precision in the digital age.