Chinese company Alibaba has unveiled an updated version of its Quark app that features an AI assistant powered by its powerful Qwen language and thinking model, the company's first offering to a broad audience that uses its own models entirely.
The updated version of Quark will allow users to use a chatbot, deep thinking features, conduct research, and perform tasks such as writing documents, creating images and presentations, and planning trips. The company also said in a statement that the app will be able to perform medical diagnostics, but without providing further details.
The app will be able to provide users with multi-part answers and supplement them with more detailed information from multiple sources, leaving links for verification and further research.
Quark, which first launched in 2016 as a web browser, already has over 200 million users in China and the company plans to continue to grow it. According to the company, it is currently the largest AI search engine on the market.
"This upgraded version of Quark is just the beginning. As our model capabilities continue to evolve, we envision Quark as a gateway to endless possibilities where users can explore everything with AI," said Wu Jia, CEO of Quark and vice president of Alibaba Group.
In addition, Alibaba Group also noted in a statement that the company will increase investment in artificial intelligence in three key areas: AI and cloud computing infrastructure, development of basic AI models and applications, and integration of artificial intelligence into existing businesses.