Alibaba’s main AI app debuts strongly in effort to rival ChatGPT

Qwen’s debut underscores how artificial intelligence apps have set new highs for rapid adoption in recent times, starting with OpenAI’s ChatGPT being fastest to 100 million users three years ago. — REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Qwen app drew more than 10 million downloads in the week after its relaunch, boding well for a longer-term effort to build a rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The Chinese e-commerce leader’s shares climbed more than 5% Monday in Hong Kong after Alibaba disclosed the number in a WeChat blog post. That rapid ramp follows the move this month to rename and freshen up Alibaba’s pre-existing apps on iOS and Android, unifying the services under the Qwen banner.