Alibaba

Alibaba put “Doubao” into Quark — after half a day I realized it’s thinking like OpenAI

Honghao Wang

— 4 min read
Alibaba put “Doubao” into Quark — after half a day I realized it’s thinking like OpenAI

Alibaba’s “C Plan” Unveiled: Quark’s Conversational AI Assistant Goes Live

A few days ago, Alibaba teased its mysterious “C Plan”, with speculation that the “C” referenced Pac-Man — a metaphor aimed squarely at competing AI assistants like Doubao.

Now the mystery is solved: under Alibaba’s AI flagship application, Quark has officially launched its Conversational Assistant.

Instead of introducing a standalone “Doubao” competitor, Alibaba embedded conversational capabilities directly into the Quark app — the same one you already use.

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Two Modes: Search & Conversation

Quark now offers two primary modes:

  • AI Search – for direct information access.
  • Assistant Mode – for in-depth exploration and Q&A.

According to APPSO:

  • Powered by Qwen3‑Max, Alibaba’s latest proprietary model (debuted at the Yunqi Conference).
  • Ranked Top 3 globally on large model leaderboards, surpassing GPT‑5 and Claude Opus 4.
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▲ Qwen3‑Max ranking above GPT‑5 and Claude Opus 4.

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Quark in the Global AI App Landscape

  • Both Doubao and Quark appear in A16z’s Top 20 of the Global Top 100 AI Apps.
  • APPSO tested how these new capabilities perform in real use.

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First Look: How the Conversational Assistant Works

The assistant resides where Deep Search used to be.

  • Tap the icon → enter a chat interface.
  • Answers maintain the same quality level as Deep Search.
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Key Difference from Deep Search:

  • Deep Search – ideal for complex, multi-step queries.
  • Conversational Assistant – excels at quick, everyday questions.

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Everyday Use Case Examples

Example 1: Food Safety – Best Chopsticks

  • Searched across ~200 online resources.
  • Filtered for high-quality sources.
  • Delivered concise, conversational recommendations → wooden chopsticks remain safest.
  • Attached an explanatory video for clarity.
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Example 2: Winter Bedding for Guangzhou

  • Answered with material-specific recommendations, usage scenarios, and bed size weights.
  • Summary: 6 jin for singles, 8–10 jin for doubles.
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Example 3: Current Events – iPhone Air eSIM

  • Compiled info from multiple tech media outlets (including ifanr).
  • Clarified max eSIM limits, domestic vs. overseas differences, and restrictions.
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Example 4: Gold Price Volatility & Fund Advice

  • Pulled latest market news.
  • Referenced Quark Docs trend analysis reports.
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Example 5: Explaining Quantum Computing

  • Supplemented text definitions with videos and articles.
  • Included playable content from Bilibili, Douyin, and Xigua Video.
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Strengths at a Glance

  • Fast response for everyday queries.
  • High accuracy with low hallucination rate.
  • Multi‑source answers integrating web and internal reports.
  • Rich media integration (video, charts, documents).

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Bigger Picture: AI Embedded into Familiar Tools

Quark’s integration reflects a global trend — everyday apps embedding advanced models directly into the user experience.

For AI content creators, open-source platforms like AiToEarn官网 offer:

  • Unified tools for generation, publishing, and analytics.
  • Multi‑platform distribution (Douyin, Kwai, WeChat, Bilibili, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest, X).
  • Model ranking dashboards (AI模型排名) to track performance.

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Parallels with OpenAI’s Strategy

  • OpenAI: From Sora to AI browser to making ChatGPT call third-party apps.
  • Goal: Make ChatGPT an “operating system” for the AI era — one dialogue box absorbing all phone apps.
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Quark’s Approach:

  • Same ambition, more pragmatic for Chinese users.
  • Enhances apps you already use instead of requiring adoption of a new one.
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A Practical Example: High School Physics

Scenario:

  • Student working late hits a tough problem.
  • Snap a photo → upload to Quark.
  • Instant answer with step-by-step reasoning.
  • Continue exploring in conversation mode.
  • Save notes directly to Quark’s cloud drive.

Result: Problem solved without leaving the app.

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Why Embedding Matters

Alibaba chose integration over duplication:

  • You’re already searching, reading docs, and saving in Quark.
  • Now it also chats and writes like Doubao — backed by a model on par with GPT‑5.
  • Why download another app?

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Quark’s 2024 Update Trajectory

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From AI “Super Box” to Specialized Scenarios:

  • Smarter AI – improved reasoning, image analysis.
  • Targeted Use Cases – college exams, healthcare, office productivity.
  • Interconnected Features – AI creation, deep search, deep analysis.

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Looking Ahead

Quark’s Conversational Assistant is not just another tool — it’s evolving into a super gateway for solving problems inside a single app.

For creators, platforms like AiToEarn官网 mirror this spirit for content workflows — unifying creation, distribution, and monetization across all major channels, much like Quark unifies AI interaction for end users.

The takeaway: Unified, intelligent interfaces are rapidly becoming the norm — both in consumer AI and creator tools.

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