Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Alibaba Launches Free Qwen3 Chatbot in Quark, Opens Pre-Sales for AI Glasses

The push marks a pivot toward consumer AI to close a wide lead held by ByteDance in China.

Overview

  • The new chat mode in the Quark app supports text and voice conversations and combines AI search and conversation in one interface.
  • Powered by Alibaba Cloud’s latest Qwen3 models, the assistant adds tools including photo editing, photo-based problem solving and AI writing.
  • Quark AI Glasses go on pre-sale Oct. 24 on Tmall at 4,699 yuan, with discounts during Singles’ Day promotions and deliveries starting from December.
  • Alibaba is repositioning Quark as its flagship consumer platform after limited uptake of its Tongyi app, which had 6.96 million monthly active users in September versus 150 million for ByteDance’s Doubao, according to Aicpb.com.
  • Alibaba shares rose nearly 1.7% in Hong Kong, with U.S.-listed stock also higher in premarket trading after the announcements.