Preface: Emerging from the aftermath of the AI bubble, AI browsers are steadily rising, heralding the dawn of an era where they can reclaim their former glory. AI technology is revolutionizing the traditional search paradigm, transitioning from mere link aggregation to intelligent decision-making. As the gateway to the internet, browsers serve as the vital conduit for AI services to reach users.

Author | Fang Wensan | Image Source | Network

Internet titans vie for supremacy in AI

In May this year, QQ Browser, a product under Tencent's Cloud and Smart Industries Group (CSIG), announced its official upgrade to an AI Browser, introducing the new AI QBot, equipped with Tencent's Hunyuan and DeepSeek dual models.

This move positions Tencent CSIG's two flagship AI-to-Consumer (AI to C) products—Tencent Yuanbao and QQ Browser—in direct competition with Alibaba's Tongyi and Quark.

Perhaps aiming to outshine Alibaba in the AI realm, Quark announced in February that it had comprehensively upgraded to AI search, offering a novel AI experience to 200 million users.

Currently, Tencent and Alibaba are sparing no expense in their quest to dominate the AI landscape. The first-quarter financial report of this year reveals that Alibaba's capital expenditure soared by 121% year-on-year to 24.6 billion yuan, while Tencent's surged by 91% to 27.5 billion yuan, with 23 billion yuan allocated to AI-related businesses, accounting for over 80% of the total.

Tencent vs Alibaba in the AI Browser Battle

Recently, Tencent officially announced the launch of the QBot AI agent in QQ Browser, marking a comprehensive upgrade to an AI browser.

This upgrade emphasizes the enhancement of five core functionalities: AI search, AI browsing, AI office, AI learning, and AI writing.

Furthermore, QBot integrates multiple Agent intelligent agents, with the initial batch comprising four Agents: AI College Entrance Examination Helper, Download Assistant, Update Assistant, and Stock Assistant.

This initiative inevitably recalls Quark Browser's transformation into an AI flagship application in March this year, marked by the introduction of the [AI Super Box] feature.

Quark's core feature is the [AI Super Box], which amalgamates AI dialogue, deep thinking, deep search, deep research, and deep execution capabilities into a streamlined [search box]. Users simply enter a command, and the AI automatically discerns their intent, answering questions or completing tasks in various contexts.

The cornerstone of the new QQ Browser version lies in the QBot AI agent. Despite being termed an agent, its essence is akin to consolidating various AI capabilities into one [box], exhibiting functionalities similar to Quark's [AI Super Box].

The distinction lies in the fact that Quark's [AI Super Box] does not allow switching search engines, with AI-generated content prioritized at the top of search results, whereas content from search engines appears below. Conversely, QQ Browser's search box defaults to AI search, displaying AI-generated content on the right side of the interface upon search, while network-wide search results appear on the left.

QQ Browser solely supports the upload of doc documents and is confined to screenshot searches, not accommodating the upload of existing images. In contrast, Quark Browser supports multiple file and video formats, enabling users to upload images and conduct screenshot searches.

Technically, QQ Browser employs the dual engine of [Hunyuan Large Model + DeepSeek], leveraging Tencent's content ecosystem (including WeChat Official Accounts and Tencent Docs) to achieve deep retrieval of information sources, balancing professionalism with ecological compatibility.

Alibaba's Quark Browser integrates AI dialogue, deep search, and multimodal processing capabilities through a minimalist search box, accommodating text, image, and voice inputs, realizing the convergence of [question answering + task execution].

At its foundation, it relies on Alibaba's Tongyi Large Model to bolster multimodal fusion and scenario adaptation, such as providing literature context analysis for academic searches and generating cost-performance reports for product searches.

In selecting foundational large models, Quark adopts Alibaba Group's Tongyi Large Model, whereas QQ Browser opts for Tencent Group's Hunyuan and DeepSeek dual models, a choice intricately linked to Tencent's AI strategy.

QQ Browser integrates multiple Agent intelligent agents, whereas Quark does not extend beyond conventional AI capabilities to integrate additional agents.

QQ Browser's approach mirrors strategies employed by peers like Dia and New Quark. While not pioneering, it undoubtedly stands as one of the most aggressive browsers in promoting simplicity and AI integration.

By integrating proactive and passive AI tools and capabilities into the product, it offers users AI assistance at opportune moments and within relevant contexts.

The objective is to curtail time, streamline steps, and enhance the efficiency required for the browser's dual core functions of information acquisition and task completion, while yielding superior outcomes.

Although current promotional efforts and download volume data indicate a significant gap between QQ Browser and Quark, QQ Browser's comprehensive upgrade to an AI browser is anticipated to propel the growth of its related data.

Currently, Quark has transcended the realm of traditional browsers and simple search tools, evolving into an AI agent heavily invested in by Alibaba Group. Additionally, [New Quark] will serve as the [showcase] for Alibaba's AI achievements, with the latest Tongyi series model advancements prioritized for integration into Quark.

According to the January 2025 AIGC RANK China AI Application Rankings, Quark boasts an average daily active user count of 33.69 million, ranking first among China's AI applications.

It is foreseeable that with the continuous advancement and iteration of AI model technology, super applications exemplified by Quark will further catalyze the transition of users from [searching] to [AI-ing].

Regarded as the nexus of ecological traffic and service distribution nodes

In the PC era, browsers (like QQ Browser) were akin to information entry points, an extension of portal websites, primarily focused on attracting traffic. Consequently, browser homepages were often cluttered with redundant navigation pages and an abundance of content recommendations, with technology-driven features taking a backseat.

However, the evolution of AI browsers poses a significant challenge: it signifies more than just a functional upgrade; it embodies a fundamental paradigm shift.

As AI becomes indispensable, companies that master browsers will have the opportunity to redefine the entry point.

AI browsers are not mere tools; they are the hubs for ecological traffic and service distribution nodes within their respective ecosystems.

Ultimate victory hinges on the ability to construct a closed-loop ecosystem encompassing [browser + large model + vertical services].

User behavior data amassed by browsers (including search habits and content preferences) can be fed back into the training of large models, fostering a closed loop of [data-model-experience].

If Tencent integrates the WeChat ecosystem with AI office scenarios, or if Alibaba achieves deep integration of [search-e-commerce-cloud computing], AI browsers are poised to become the entry point for the next-generation operating system, reshaping the rules of internet traffic distribution.

The battle between Tencent and Alibaba in AI browsers is essentially a multidimensional competition encompassing [technological reserves, ecological resources, and user insights].

Backed by a user base of 400 million, Tencent's QQ Browser and Alibaba's Quark, which has broken through with [lightweight + intelligent], both aspire to the positioning of the [AI super entry point], aiming to reshape user habits through technological empowerment and vie for control over the full-scenario traffic spanning search, office, to lifestyle services.

The innovation of AI products and the mutual adaptation of user habits are inherently gradual processes.

Rather than relying on disruptive innovation, it chooses to evolve with time, enabling AI technology to benefit every user and gradually integrate technology with application scenarios alongside users.

In a sense, browser products bear a striking resemblance to smartphone products: both are well-established, have navigated a fiercely competitive market stage, possess immense user traffic, and have surpassed their rapid growth phase.

Conclusion:

With the deepening penetration of AI technology, browsers will transcend their role as mere tools, evolving into intelligent hubs that connect people and services.

The victor in this battle will not only reshape the browser market landscape but may also delineate the form of internet entry points for the next decade.

As AI super applications continue to refine and enrich their experiences and functionalities, this battle for traffic entry points in the AI era will intensify.

References:

• DataEye Application Data Intelligence: "Tencent's Surprise New Product! Collides with Alibaba in the Same Race"
• APPSO: "Domestic Browsers Finally Let Go of the 'Portal Website' Obsession and Fully Embrace AI"
• Programming Alchemy: "QQ Browser Upgraded to AI Browser, Is It Going to Be Another [Quark]?"
• Face AI: "In the Battle of AI Browsers, Tencent is Really in the Game This Time"
• Market Phenomenon: "Tencent vs Alibaba, AI to C [Wu vs Wu]"
• Silicon-based Research Lab: "AI Battlefield, Tencent to the Left, Alibaba to the Right"
• New Fortune: "At This Moment, I Understand the True Ambition of AI Browsers"
• Wang Zhiyuan: "Tencent is Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones of Quark, but the Water is Deep"
• Zinc Finance: "Tongyi + Quark, Alibaba's AI Going To C"
• Lei Technology: "Alibaba's New Quark Released! Cutting the Search Cake with the Super Box"