ByteDance, the parent company of popular social media platform TikTok, is intensifying efforts in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) projects as it aims to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI. Under the leadership of CEO Liang Rubo, ByteDance is focusing on three key objectives for GenAI in the current quarter: bolstering the recruitment of AI talent, improving the organizational structure, and enhancing fundamental research.
The company is actively seeking AI professionals, with over 300 job openings related to GenAI listed on its website, more than 100 of which are specifically for large language models (LLMs). Recent strategic hires, such as Jiang Lu, a key contributor to Google’s VideoPoet, highlight ByteDance’s commitment to advancing its AI capabilities.
ByteDance is reportedly working on various AI products, including text-to-image and text-to-video technologies. The team responsible for the video-editing app CapCut is also engaged in confidential AI projects. This concerted effort underscores ByteDance’s recognition of AI as a critical battleground, with the company adopting an “all in” mentality, according to internal sources.
Despite ByteDance’s early success in using machine learning algorithms for content recommendations, the company was relatively late in exploring large language models. It launched its chatbots Doubao and Cici AI in the second half of last year, trailing competitors like Baidu and Alibaba Group.
The urgency to advance in the AI space is evident in ByteDance’s recent internal communication, where CEO Liang expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of adapting to new technologies. The company is striving to catch up with advancements such as ChatGPT and Sora, and key executives, including founder Zhang Yiming, have shifted their focus toward AI.
ByteDance’s intensified efforts align with a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies globally are reassessing their AI strategies. In China, demand for AI talent, particularly those with expertise in GenAI, has surged in recent months. With a national emphasis on AI as part of its strategic technology landscape, China’s vast talent pool and educational initiatives position it as a key player in the evolving AI landscape.
As ByteDance accelerates its investment in GenAI, the company aims to position itself as a frontrunner in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence.