Beijing: Quark Introduces New AI Search Feature

Quark, an AI application developed by Alibaba Group, has launched an innovative “deep search” feature. This new capability integrates AI model inference with online search functionality, allowing it to address complex user queries effectively.

The South China Morning Post reports that this update will be accessible on various platforms, including smartphones and PCs.

This development follows Quark’s impressive achievement of nearly 150 million active users globally as of March 2025, making it the leading AI application in China. In contrast, competitors like Bytedance’s Doubao and Deepseek have garnered only about 100 million and 77 million users, respectively.

Quark distinguishes its AI applications from conventional search engines, which primarily depend on keywords. The “Deep Search” feature utilizes Alibaba’s QWEN AI model, enabling it to deliver “accurate” answers to user questions.

Recently, Alibaba announced plans to revitalize its web search and cloud storage tools, transforming them into AI assistants to bolster its presence in the AI sector.

Zhang Fan, Quark’s head of search, emphasized the commitment to enhancing deep search capabilities and prioritizing user needs to establish a comprehensive “full-out AI assistant.”

To use the “Deep Search” function, users can pose questions through the mobile app. The app then analyzes these queries and conducts a step-by-step online search, refining the inference process based on the search results to respond to users.

Interestingly, Quark isn’t the first in China to merge AI inference with online searches. Kimi Chatbot from Moonshot AI had previously announced a comparable feature.

This development comes as internet search companies worldwide face various challenges posed by new AI tools.

In a related note, Apple’s senior vice president, Eddie Cue, mentioned recently that Google experienced a decline in searches on the Safari browser on iPhones for the first time last month—a significant shift after 22 years. This decline has been associated with Apple’s increasing use of artificial intelligence.

Reports suggest Apple will receive around $2 billion from Google while also working on creating its own search engine for the default on Safari.