ByteDance, the company behind TikTok and Douyin, is making significant strides in its quest to become a leader in large language models (LLMs) and generative AI (GenAI) technology. The recent hiring of prominent AI experts highlights their long-term commitment to this field.
Key AI Talent Joins ByteDance
The company has recruited at least two notable figures. One is Huang Wenhao, a Microsoft veteran and former vice president at GenAI startup 01.AI. The other is Qin Yujia, the founder and CEO of Seq-AI, who holds a PhD in LLMs from Tsinghua University.
According to an anonymous source familiar with ByteDance’s plans, the company is dedicated to bolstering LLM research but has no intention of establishing a separate LLM research unit, as previously reported in Chinese media. ByteDance did not respond to a request for comment as of Wednesday.
The rise of GenAI, particularly with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022, has prompted ByteDance to prioritise this technology. Early last year, they appointed TikTok’s tech lead Zhu Wenjia to oversee AI model development. Additionally, Kelly Zhang Nan, former CEO of Douyin, transitioned to focus on CapCut, a video editing app that now integrates GenAI features.
These initial efforts seem to be paying off. CapCut garnered over 38 million downloads in July, while ByteDance’s AI chatbot Doubao surpassed ChatGPT’s downloads with over 27 million, as per a Unique Capital report. Their recruitment efforts are also evident – a search for “LLM” on their career website reveals over 600 open positions.
AI as a Strategic Priority
ByteDance recognises the critical role of AI in maintaining its competitive edge. Their AI-powered recommendation system is a key factor behind the success of TikTok and Douyin. In February, CEO Liang Rubo reportedly criticised employees for lagging behind on emerging technologies like GenAI.
The addition of Huang and Qin to ByteDance’s AI team signifies their commitment to becoming a major player in the LLM and GenAI space. With their expertise and ongoing recruitment efforts, ByteDance is well-positioned to make significant advancements in this rapidly evolving field.
