What: Alibaba introduced a free AI chatbot and announced the launch of Quark AI Glasses, expanding its AI-driven consumer product lineup.

Why it is important: This move highlights the intensifying competition in AI-powered retail services and the strategic importance of consumer engagement through advanced technology.

Alibaba has unveiled a new AI chatbot assistant integrated into its Quark app, marking a renewed effort to capture consumer interest in a market where ByteDance and Tencent currently dominate. The chatbot, accessible via text or voice, leverages Alibaba’s latest Qwen3 models to provide real-time information and enhanced reasoning capabilities. This launch is part of Alibaba’s broader strategy to reposition Quark as its flagship consumer application, embedding advanced AI features to drive user engagement and retention. In addition to the chatbot, Alibaba announced the upcoming release of Quark AI Glasses, priced at 4699 yuan, which will be available for pre-sale on Tmall and begin shipping in December. These smart glasses represent Alibaba’s entry into the wearable AI device market, aligning with global trends set by companies like Meta. Despite previous challenges in achieving widespread adoption for its Tongyi AI assistant, Alibaba’s latest initiatives underscore its determination to compete in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven retail technology.

IADS Notes: Alibaba’s October 2025 launch of its AI chatbot and Quark AI Glasses reflects a year of significant AI-driven transformation. In January 2025, Retail Week reported that Alibaba’s Accio AI search engine achieved rapid adoption and a 30% increase in conversion rates, while Journal du Net highlighted Alibaba Cloud’s advancements in language models and the ModelScope platform, reinforcing the company’s global AI ambitions. By December 2024, SCMP noted that China’s retail sector had reached 230 million AI users, with Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent leading adoption and shaping international standards. In September 2025, Bloomberg detailed Alibaba’s $52 billion AI investment and strategic pivot toward in-house AI platforms and hardware, underscoring its commitment to leading both consumer-facing and foundational AI innovation in retail.

Alibaba launches AI chatbot service to broaden consumer appeal