Bytedance's AI chatbot Doubao staff: Doubao testing deep thinking model in small-scale trial, not integrating DeepSeek

Bytedance's AI chatbot Doubao staff: Doubao testing deep thinking model in small-scale trial, not integrating DeepSeek

[1] ByteDance's AI Chatbot Doubao: A New Player in China's AI Market

In a significant move to expand its presence in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena, ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has launched its own generative AI model, Doubao [1]. Originally named "Yunque," Doubao is one of the first AI models in China to receive algorithm registration in 2023 and is now available at a remarkably low cost of 0.0008 yuan per 1,000-token prompt [1]. This cost is a staggering 99.8% cheaper than OpenAI's GPT-4 model, making Doubao an attractive option for businesses and developers seeking cost-effective AI solutions.

[2] Impressive Capabilities and Extensive Usage

Doubao handles an impressive 120 billion tokens and generates around 30 million images daily [1]. In the context of natural language processing (NLP), a token represents a unit of text that the AI model processes, with each 1,000 tokens being roughly equivalent to 750 English words [2]. This means that Doubao processes and generates a vast amount of text and images every day, making it one of the most extensively used AI models in China.

ByteDance integrates Doubao into over 50 of its apps, including Douyin, and the Doubao app itself has garnered over 100 million downloads and 26 million monthly users [1]. With its low cost and rich application scenarios, Doubao is poised to disrupt the Chinese AI market and compete with established players like Baidu and Alibaba.

[3] The Need for Continuous Cost Reduction

Despite the already competitive pricing of AI models in China compared to foreign counterparts, Tan Dai, president of ByteDance's cloud computing services unit Volcano Engine, emphasized the need for further cost reductions [1]. Enterprises face significant pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency, and AI solutions like Doubao can help them achieve these goals. However, as the competition in the AI market continues to intensify, providers like ByteDance must continue to innovate and find ways to reduce costs to remain competitive.

In conclusion, ByteDance's launch of Doubao, its generative AI model, marks an exciting entry into the crowded AI competition in China. With its low cost, extensive usage, and rich application scenarios, Doubao is poised to disrupt the market and compete with established players. As the competition continues to evolve, ByteDance and other providers must continue to innovate and find ways to reduce costs to remain competitive.

References:
[1] Caixing Global. (2024, May 16). ByteDance enters AI arena with Doubao, offering ultra-low-cost and versatile applications. https://www.caixinglobal.com/2024-05-16/bytedance-enters-ai-arena-with-doubao-offering-ultra-low-cost-and-versatile-applications-102196732.html
[2] ByteDance. (n.d.). Doubao. https://cloud.volcanoengine.com/documentation/product/286/17346