[Alibaba Quark Secretly Launches 'Project C': Involves Conversational AI Applications, Potentially Targeting ByteDance's Doubao] According to an exclusive report by Sina Tech, Alibaba Quark is internally advancing an AI initiative codenamed 'Project C,' led by Quark's core team with participation from several senior members of the Tongyi Laboratory. Multiple sources have revealed that the project is related to the development of conversational AI applications, with the first new achievement expected to be unveiled soon. Sources indicate that 'Project C' has been secretly underway within Quark for a long time, and the upcoming reveal is merely a phased result. 'This is a product that requires long-term investment and relies on breakthroughs in model technology.' As for the origin of the codename 'Project C,' there are currently several speculations. One theory suggests that 'C' stands for 'Chat,' implying that Quark may launch a new conversational format. Another more provocative internal speculation is that the codename 'C' is derived from the classic game 'Pac-Man,' with its meaning self-evident—its target is directly aimed at Doubao. As of now, Quark has not responded to the above-mentioned reports.