Alibaba’s Quark App introduces an advanced AI chatbot and smart glasses, stepping up competition against ByteDance and Tencent in China’s AI market.
Alibaba Expands Consumer AI Push with Quark App Launch
Hangzhou, China — October 23, 2025 | The Interview Times— Alibaba Group has launched its next-generation AI chatbot within the Quark App, marking a major move in China’s fast-growing consumer artificial intelligence sector. The update strengthens Alibaba’s bid to compete with ByteDance and Tencent, both dominant players in AI-powered services.
From Smart Search to Conversational AI
Originally designed as a smart search and browsing tool, the Quark App has evolved into a full-fledged conversational AI platform. Powered by Alibaba’s Qwen3-Max model, it supports real-time text and voice interactions, transforming the app into a dynamic digital assistant.
With more than 150 million monthly active users, Quark’s Dialogue Assistant is capable of engaging in multi-turn conversations while using proprietary algorithms to personalize responses and reduce misinformation—a persistent issue with generative AI systems.
Alibaba says the new features demonstrate its focus on consumer-facing innovation, complementing its strong enterprise AI presence through Alibaba Cloud.
💡Quark unveils AI Chat Assistant, powered by Alibaba’s Qwen3 models!
— Alibaba Group (@AlibabaGroup) October 23, 2025
It offers smart text and voice chats, real-time info, and seamless services, unifying dialogue and search in one app. pic.twitter.com/NFv1kjmv5e
Alibaba Faces Fierce Competition
Despite the technical progress, Alibaba faces steep competition. Its earlier app, Tongyi, peaked at only around three million monthly users. In contrast, ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot commands over 150 million, DeepSeek has 73.4 million, and Tencent’s Yuanbao holds 64.2 million users.
To stand out, the company is betting on trust, factual accuracy, and integration with intelligent search, areas where AI chatbots often struggle. Analysts say Alibaba’s combination of reliable search and natural conversation could help it gain traction among Chinese users seeking more dependable AI tools.
Quark AI Glasses Bring Wearable Intelligence
Alongside the chatbot launch, Alibaba also unveiled the Quark AI Glasses, marking its entry into the wearable AI device market.
- Pre-orders begin October 24 via Tmall.
- Price: 4,699 yuan (about $660).
- Deliveries start December 2025.
The glasses use the same Qwen3 AI engine as the app, enabling hands-free calling, music streaming, real-time translation, meeting transcription, navigation, and even Alipay payment integration.
This expansion positions Alibaba to compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and Xiaomi’s smart eyewear, extending its reach from mobile AI to hardware innovation.
Positive Market Response and Strategic Outlook
Following the dual announcement, Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares rose nearly 2%, with additional gains in Hong Kong. The company’s stock has already gained around 97% year-to-date, reflecting investor confidence in its AI-driven transformation.
Experts believe the Quark App and its connected devices represent a pivotal part of Alibaba’s strategy to unify its AI ecosystem—bridging search, conversation, and hardware.
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Conclusion: Quark App as Alibaba’s Consumer AI Gateway
The Quark App launch, paired with the debut of Quark AI Glasses, signals a bold new phase in Alibaba’s push to reclaim ground in China’s consumer AI space. By combining trusted search, natural dialogue, and wearable intelligence, Alibaba is positioning itself to challenge ByteDance and Tencent—and to redefine how Chinese consumers interact with artificial intelligence in daily life.
Everything You Need to Know About the Quark App Launch
As Alibaba expands its footprint in the consumer AI market, many users are curious about how the Quark App works, what makes it different, and how its new AI chatbot and smart glasses fit into the company’s broader strategy. The following FAQs provide a clear overview of the Quark App’s features, technology, and market impact, helping readers understand why this launch is being seen as a major milestone in China’s AI innovation landscape.
FAQs on Alibaba’s Quark App Launch
1. What is the Quark App?
The Quark App is Alibaba’s intelligent mobile platform that combines advanced AI search, writing tools, and conversational assistance. Initially launched as a smart search engine, it has now evolved into a full-fledged AI ecosystem with real-time text and voice chatbot features powered by Alibaba’s Qwen3-Max model.
2. What new AI features were added to the Quark App?
The latest update introduces an AI chatbot capable of real-time, multi-turn conversations. It supports both text and voice inputs and uses Alibaba’s proprietary algorithms to deliver personalized, accurate, and context-aware responses while reducing misinformation.
3. How does the Quark App differ from other AI chatbots in China?
Unlike most AI chatbots, the Quark App integrates AI conversation with search-based reliability, meaning users can chat and fact-check within the same interface. This approach helps limit AI hallucinations and improves the accuracy of information — an area where competitors like ByteDance’s Doubao and Tencent’s Yuanbao face challenges.
4. How many people use the Quark App?
According to Alibaba, the Quark App currently has over 150 million monthly active users, making it one of China’s fastest-growing consumer AI platforms. The new chatbot is expected to drive further engagement and expand its user base.
5. What are Quark AI Glasses and how do they connect to the Quark App?
The Quark AI Glasses are Alibaba’s new wearable device powered by the same Qwen3 AI engine as the Quark App. The glasses enable hands-free calls, real-time translation, transcription, navigation, and Alipay integration. Users can seamlessly connect them with the app for a synchronized AI experience across devices.
6. When and where can users buy the Quark AI Glasses?
Pre-orders for the Quark AI Glasses began on October 24, 2025, through Alibaba’s Tmall platform. The device is priced at 4,699 yuan (approximately $660), with deliveries scheduled to start in December 2025. Early buyers may receive discounted launch pricing.
7. How is Alibaba positioning the Quark App in the AI market?
Alibaba is positioning the Quark App as a trusted AI companion that blends search precision with natural language interaction. This strategy aims to differentiate it from rivals like ByteDance and Tencent by focusing on accuracy, safety, and intelligent integration across mobile and wearable platforms.
8. How did the financial markets react to the Quark App announcement?
Following the announcement of the Quark App’s AI chatbot and glasses, Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares rose nearly 2%, with further gains in the Hong Kong market. The company’s strong stock performance reflects investor optimism about its renewed focus on consumer AI innovation.
9. What technology powers the Quark App?
The Quark App is powered by Alibaba’s Qwen3-Max model, a cutting-edge large language model designed to handle natural conversation, contextual understanding, and multimodal tasks. It enables the app to deliver human-like dialogue and data-backed responses.
10. Why is the Quark App significant for Alibaba’s future?
The Quark App represents Alibaba’s strategic reentry into the consumer AI space. By integrating AI chat, smart search, and wearable tech, Alibaba aims to build a unified AI ecosystem that competes with ByteDance’s Doubao and Tencent’s Yuanbao — reshaping how millions of users in China experience artificial intelligence.