Alibaba's AI app Qwen hits 10M downloads in a week
What's the story
Alibaba Group's newly revamped artificial intelligence (AI) app, Qwen, has crossed the milestone of 10 million downloads within a week of its launch. The achievement has resulted in a more than 5% jump in Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares on Monday. The spike highlights the growing demand for consumer-oriented AI applications in China, where access to Western alternatives like OpenAI's ChatGPT remains restricted.
App consolidation
Launch and future plans
The download numbers were shared in a WeChat post, following Alibaba's decision to bring together and rebrand several of its existing iOS and Android apps under the Qwen name. The move is part of a larger plan to create a local competitor to global AI services and bolster the company's consumer ecosystem.
Growth trajectory
Early success and future integration
Qwen's early success puts it among the fastest-growing AI apps outside of Meta's Threads, which got a major boost from Facebook and Instagram integration. The app's rapid growth also reflects China's demand for local AI solutions as mainland users look for alternatives to services that have restricted access in the country. Alibaba plans to gradually add more advanced features into Qwen in the coming months.
Feature expansion
Future capabilities and market impact
Alibaba has said that Qwen will eventually offer features like navigation, food delivery, travel booking, office productivity, education, and health advice. This is part of Alibaba's shift to an "AI-first" approach under CEO Eddie Wu. Analysts believe the app's strong start could be crucial for Alibaba's long-term valuation as it seeks to position itself against OpenAI and revive its consumer business.