Alibaba launches new app to take OpenAI

Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd launched its new artificial intelligence-powered chatbot app called Qwen on Monday, opening it to general users in a bid to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The beta version of the app, an upgraded and renamed version of the previous app Tongyi, is now available on major app stores, with web and PC versions released simultaneously.

An international version targeting global users will also be launched soon, aiming to rival ChatGPT overseas by leveraging Qwen model's growing global influence.

Alibaba said it aims to build a "personal AI assistant that can chat and get everything done" through launching the app and leveraging its most advanced AI models.

The app has already demonstrated some task-handling capabilities. With a single instruction, it can complete a research report within seconds and generate a presentation.

Alibaba also plans to integrate the services such as maps, food delivery, ticket booking, office tools, education, shopping and healthcare into the Qianwen app to further enhance its ability to handle multiple tasks.