CHINA BRIEF | Alibaba’s intelligent search app Quark releases content product ZVideo

Quark, an AI-driven smart search app launched by Alibaba’s UC business unit last year, released a new in-app section on Wednesday, dubbed “ZVideo” for informational videos on various topics in a move to enrich its original content ecosystem, according to Quark.

In June, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) established an Intelligent Search business department, which focuses on developing its search engine products. Currently, Quark, which is a search app enabling photo, text, and voice-based search, sits among the top 5 utility apps in Mainland China according to local app data tracker Qimai.

In June, Alibaba announced Quark’s active users had multiplied by five and its search volume by six over the past year.

Although Baidu long dominated China’s search engine vertical, it is hardly alone. In addition to Quark, Alibaba also has Shenma Search while upstart ByteDance has had Toutiao Search since 2019.

This article is part of KrASIA’s “China Brief” section, where KrASIA’s reporters will provide quick daily updates about the tech ecosystem in China.