"When Chinese AI startup DeepSeek became a global sensation in January, it not only shocked Silicon Valley but also startled ByteDance, TikTok's parent company. The Chinese tech giant had already launched Doubao, its own flagship AI assistant app with tens of millions of users. But when DeepSeek became the best-known Chinese AI company overnight, no one was talking about Doubao anymore."
"Now, ByteDance has gotten its revenge. By August, Doubao regained the throne as the most popular AI app in China with over 157 million monthly active users, according to QuestMobile, a Chinese data intelligence provider. DeepSeek, with 143 million monthly active users, slipped to second place. The same month, venture capital firm a16z also ranked Doubao as the fourth-most-popular generative AI app globally, just behind the likes of ChatGPT and Google's Gemini."
"Doubao, which launched in 2023, was deliberately designed to be personable. Unlike most popular AI chatbots, Doubao's app icon features a human-looking avatar-a female cartoon character with a short bob that greets people when they open the app for the first time. The name Doubao literally translates to "steamed bun with bean paste," mimicking "the nickname a user would give to an intimate friend," ByteDance vice president Alex Zhu said in a public speech in 2024."
Doubao regained its lead as China's most popular AI app by August, reaching over 157 million monthly active users, while DeepSeek fell to second with 143 million. The app was ranked by a16z as the fourth-most-popular generative AI app globally, behind ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. Launched in 2023, Doubao was deliberately designed to be personable, with an app icon that features a human-looking avatar — a female cartoon with a short bob that greets users. The name Doubao literally translates to "steamed bun with bean paste," mimicking a personal nickname. Doubao can chat via text, audio, and video; it can generate images, spreadsheets, decks, podcasts, and five-second videos.
Read at WIRED
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