LingGuang, an AI-powered coding app developed by Ant Group, has surged in popularity since its launch, prompting a temporary system crash due to overwhelming demand. The app, designed for "vibe coding" and rapid app creation using plain-language prompts, reached over 1 million downloads within just four days and surpassed 2 million by Monday, according to a company press release. On Monday, LingGuang ranked first on Apple’s mainland China App Store in the free utilities category and sixth overall among free apps. The sudden spike in users overwhelmed the app’s flash program tool, a key feature that allows users to generate personalized, interactive applications in as little as 30 seconds using natural language. The tool briefly crashed under heavy traffic but was quickly restored. The flash program function has enabled users to build practical tools such as activity planners for children and car cost-saving calculators. Ant Group’s Chief Technology Officer, He Zhengyu, described LingGuang as a personal AI developer in every user’s pocket: “Someone who can code, create visuals, build programs, and turn complex ideas into simple solutions — right in your pocket.” The company highlighted that LingGuang achieved its first million downloads faster than OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Sora, marking it as a significant player in the fast-evolving global AI race. Beyond the flash program feature, LingGuang is positioned as a multimodal AI tool capable of generating 3D models, interactive charts, animations, and other visual aids to help users grasp abstract concepts. It also includes an “AGI camera” that can interpret real-time scenes, enabling on-the-fly image and video analysis or editing. The app is available internationally through the Apple App Store, major Android app stores, and the web. Ant Group, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group and founded by billionaire Jack Ma, has been intensifying its AI initiatives this year. In June, it launched AQ, an AI-driven healthcare app, and in September unveiled R1, a humanoid robot designed as a competitor to Tesla’s Optimus. The rapid rise of LingGuang underscores the growing global interest in accessible, AI-powered development tools.