The new Quark app, built on Alibaba's 2016 web browser, integrates various tasks into one platform, showcasing the company's focus on enhancing AI tools for a seamless experience, with a gradual rollout starting from its pilot phase
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Chinese tech giant Alibaba has rolled out an upgraded version of its AI assistant mobile app, Quark, powered by its latest Qwen reasoning model. This launch is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) space, where Chinese tech firms are racing to develop next-gen AI applications.
The all-new Alibaba Quark app now integrates several advanced features, including an AI-powered chatbot, deep thinking, and task execution capabilities. This transformation makes the Quark app a comprehensive tool that can handle a range of tasks such as image generation, travel planning, and content creation—similar to what rivals like ByteDance’s Doubao offer. A promotional video showcased the app’s ability to write articles from images and generate meeting minutes, emphasizing its versatility and usefulness in both professional and personal settings.
Based on a web browser that Alibaba introduced in 2016, the new Quark app is designed to streamline a wide variety of tasks into a single platform. This upgrade also demonstrates Alibaba’s continued focus on enhancing its AI tools, leveraging the latest advancements in AI to deliver a seamless user experience. The app is currently in a pilot phase and will be made available to all users gradually.
Pushing boundaries in AI
This release follows the introduction of the R1-Omni model, which can interpret human emotions, further solidifying Alibaba’s position in the competitive AI race. Both of these product rollouts come in response to the success of Chinese startups like DeepSeek, which have introduced AI models that rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost.
“As our model capabilities continue to evolve, we see the Quark app as a gateway to endless possibilities, where users can explore everything with AI,” said Wu Jia, CEO of Quark and Alibaba VP. With its push to develop next-gen AI applications, Alibaba is positioning itself to challenge global players like OpenAI, strengthening its AI offerings in various sectors, including its notable partnership with Apple Inc. to integrate AI features into iPhones.
As competition intensifies in the AI space, Alibaba’s relentless innovation through its Qwen reasoning model and AI-powered chatbot highlights the company’s commitment to driving technological progress and establishing itself as a leader in the industry.
