Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has launched an upgraded version of its Quark application, a robust AI assistant leveraging Alibaba’s Qwen-based advanced reasoning model. This release signifies a milestone in Alibaba’s ambition to integrate artificial intelligence across its various businesses, particularly aimed at enhancing user experience.
The newly revamped Quark app now features advanced capabilities such as an AI chatbot, deep analytical tools, and efficient task execution, all presented within a user-friendly interface. It is designed to assist users with a wide range of tasks, including academic research, document drafting, image generation, creating presentations, medical diagnostics, travel planning, and problem-solving.
Users can now pose complex, multi-part questions and receive detailed follow-up information directly within the search engine, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of various topics.
Wu Jia, CEO of Quark and vice president of Alibaba Group, emphasized that this upgrade is merely the beginning. He envisions Quark evolving to become a gateway that provides users with limitless opportunities to explore the power of AI.
During a recent earnings call, Alibaba Group CEO Eddie Wu also highlighted the company’s commitment to investing in AI over the next three years, focusing on infrastructure, foundational model development, and the integration of AI across existing services.
Since its launch in 2016 as a web browser incubated within Alibaba, Quark has grown into a leading AI-driven information services platform, boasting over 200 million users in China. The significant enhancements to the app reflect Alibaba’s goal of harnessing AI’s potential to improve productivity, content creation, and operational efficiency. With this upgrade, Alibaba aims to solidify Quark’s position as an essential tool for millions, paving the way for a future where AI seamlessly integrates into daily activities.
