Alibaba Revamps Qwen Chatbot, Fuels US Concerns Over AI Advance
- tech360.tv
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Alibaba Group Holding has revamped its artificial intelligence chatbot, now named Qwen, sparking concern among some observers in Silicon Valley over the Chinese tech giant's rapid AI progress. The updated app, previously known as Tongyi, is available on Android and Apple app stores.
Alibaba describes Qwen as the “most powerful official AI assistant for its models” and “the primary entry point for experiencing the latest and most powerful Qwen model” in app-store descriptions. The company also plans to integrate agentic-AI features to enhance shopping on platforms such as Taobao.
Based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Alibaba has championed the adoption and commercialisation of its Qwen AI models over the past two years. This push follows the global AI enthusiasm initiated by OpenAI.
Alibaba is a prominent AI developer in China, alongside start-ups DeepSeek and Moonshot AI. It has embraced an open-source strategy, allowing third-party developers to utilise, modify, and distribute its AI models.
The company has increased efforts to monetise Qwen-based applications amidst the intensifying global AI competition. During the quarter ended in June, Alibaba’s revenue from AI-related products maintained triple-digit year-on-year growth for the eighth consecutive quarter.
Meanwhile, some observers indicate that Alibaba's significant investments and swift advancements are causing alarm in the US, placing the company among the world's top AI developers.
Marketing specialist Tulsi Soni stated on social media that "Silicon Valley doesn’t want to admit it, but the symptoms are obvious: we’re witnessing a full-blown Qwen panic."
Separately, a Financial Times report alleged Alibaba was supplying China's People's Liberation Army with unspecified capabilities. The White House reportedly claimed these capabilities would threaten US national security, citing a declassified top-secret intelligence memo.
Alibaba dismissed the report as "completely false," characterising its "assertions and innuendos" as a "malicious PR operation." The company suggested the report aimed to undermine President Trump’s recent trade deal with China.
Alibaba has rebranded its AI chatbot from Tongyi to Qwen, calling it its 'most powerful official AI assistant for its models'.
The company plans to integrate agentic-AI features into Qwen to boost shopping experiences on platforms such as Taobao.
Alibaba's AI-related product revenue achieved triple-digit year-on-year growth for the eighth consecutive quarter.
Source: SCMP