Kristina Roberts
Alibaba has launched a new AI chatbot inside its Quark app to connect better with everyday users. This move marks a fresh start for the company, which has mainly focused on business clients until now. With this step, Alibaba hopes to compete with tech giants like Tencent and ByteDance.
In Beijing, the famous Chinese technology company Alibaba has taken another big step to strengthen its presence in the world of artificial intelligence. On Thursday, Alibaba introduced a brand-new AI chatbot assistant service that aims to connect directly with ordinary users. The launch highlights Alibaba’s renewed focus on consumers — an area where competitors like ByteDance and Tencent currently dominate.
Alibaba has added this AI chatbot to its popular Quark app, which was first created as a simple web browser. Over time, Quark has changed its identity. Today, it has become Alibaba’s main app for regular users, filled with smart features powered by artificial intelligence. It now includes tools for searching, asking questions, and interacting with AI in a natural and simple way.
The company shared that this new chatbot is free to use and will help users chat through both text and voice. Whether someone wants to ask a question, get real-time information, or perform a task, the chatbot can handle it. The main goal is to make technology more personal and easier to use for everyone. Alibaba hopes this will encourage more people to try its services in daily life — from searching online to learning new things or managing simple tasks.
For years, Alibaba has focused mostly on enterprise clients — meaning companies and organizations — through its cloud computing division. That part of the business helps other companies use Alibaba’s technology to store data, manage software, and improve their operations. However, Alibaba has not been as strong in reaching individual consumers, especially when compared to its rivals. This new chatbot marks a change in that direction. The company now wants to build stronger relationships directly with users instead of just businesses.
This step also shows that Alibaba is trying hard to stay relevant in the fast-growing AI race. Artificial intelligence has become a major area of competition among China’s biggest tech firms. ByteDance, which owns TikTok and its Chinese version Douyin, already uses AI to recommend videos and improve user experience. Tencent, which operates WeChat, also uses AI to power its social media and gaming platforms. Now, Alibaba wants to show that it, too, can deliver useful and fun AI tools for the general public.
Alibaba’s journey with AI assistants isn’t new. The company had earlier launched another product called Tongyi Qianwen, an AI assistant app that came out in late 2023. It was one of the first such tools available to the public in China. However, Tongyi didn’t become as popular as Alibaba had hoped. Many users didn’t find it as engaging or easy to use as similar tools from other companies. Because of that, Tongyi couldn’t achieve the wide success the company was aiming for.
This time, however, Alibaba seems to have learned from its past experiences. Instead of launching a completely new app, it decided to integrate the chatbot directly into the Quark app, which already has millions of users. This smart move means that people don’t have to download anything new — they can simply start using the chatbot within an app they already know and trust. It’s an easier and faster way to attract users and get more people talking to Alibaba’s AI.
Alibaba’s team believes this new chatbot could become a daily helper for many people. Imagine asking your phone to summarize a school report, find the best route for a trip, or even recommend a good movie — all through a friendly chat. The company hopes that such convenient features will make the chatbot a part of people’s daily routines.
“Artificial intelligence is not just about technology — it’s about how we make people’s lives easier,” a company spokesperson said. This simple but powerful statement reflects Alibaba’s new focus: using AI to help people in real, practical ways, not just for business or data purposes.
While Alibaba is known for its huge e-commerce empire, including platforms like Taobao and Tmall, its new direction shows a desire to connect with consumers on a more personal level. By introducing the chatbot into Quark, Alibaba is hoping to remind users that it’s not just a shopping company — it’s also a technology innovator.
Experts believe this could be an important moment for Alibaba. In recent years, the company has faced tough competition not just in e-commerce, but also in entertainment, digital payments, and cloud computing. Rivals like Tencent and ByteDance have taken the lead in creating apps that people use every day. Now, Alibaba’s challenge is to bring back user interest and become a key part of their digital lives again.
The launch also comes at a time when China’s AI market is booming. Many people are becoming more curious about artificial intelligence — how it works and how it can make their lives simpler. From schools to offices, AI tools are slowly becoming part of everyday routines. This gives Alibaba a great chance to make its mark with a product that is easy, friendly, and useful.
Another interesting thing about this chatbot is that it supports voice conversations, not just typing. This means users can simply talk to it — like chatting with a friend — to get instant answers. It’s designed to understand questions, respond clearly, and even handle follow-up conversations. This could make AI feel more human and approachable, especially for younger users or those who find typing tiring.
Even though it’s too early to say how successful this new chatbot will be, many analysts see it as a fresh start for Alibaba in the consumer technology space. It represents the company’s renewed energy and creativity. By making the service free and easily accessible, Alibaba is also sending a strong message — it wants to build trust and attract people before thinking about profit.
In the fast-changing world of technology, staying relevant is not easy. But with this move, Alibaba seems ready to take on that challenge. The combination of AI, user-friendliness, and a familiar app like Quark could give it the edge it needs.
As one tech expert said, “Alibaba has always been known for innovation. This new chatbot is a sign that it wants to bring that innovation closer to the people again.”
Alibaba’s latest step is more than just a product launch — it’s a reminder that technology, when used well, can bring people and companies closer together. And with this new AI chatbot, the company is showing that it’s not giving up on connecting with everyday users — it’s just getting started again.
