TikTok Owner ByteDance Quietly Launched 4 Generative AI Apps Powered By OpenAI’s GPT
TLDRTikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has discreetly introduced four new generative AI apps outside of China, powered by OpenAI's GPT technology. The apps, named CCI, Chit Chop, and Bagel Bell, have been launched over the past three months and have garnered millions of downloads collectively. CCI and Chit Chop are bot creation platforms for entertainment purposes, while Bagel Bell creates interactive fictional stories. These apps are operated by ByteDance subsidiaries, Spring SGPT Ltd and Polygon Pte, and are part of ByteDance's broader strategy to compete in the generative AI space. The most popular app, CC, has over 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store. ByteDance's venture into AI apps follows similar initiatives by tech giants like Facebook, Snapchat, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Currently, only one of the apps, Co, is available in the US, with none in the EU. ByteDance's spokesperson, Jod Seth, stated that the apps are still in the testing phase and did not elaborate on future plans. The potential for integration into TikTok and the broader implications of data privacy and regulatory scrutiny are highlighted.
Takeaways
- 🚀 ByteDance, TikTok's owner, has quietly released four new generative AI apps: CCI, Chit Chop, and Bagel Bell, outside of China.
- 📈 These apps have collectively garnered millions of downloads within the past three months since their launch.
- 🤖 CCI and Chit Chop are bot creation platforms allowing users to make and share chat bots.
- 📚 Bagel Bell generates plots and texts for fictional stories that adapt based on reader choices.
- 🔌 The apps utilize OpenAI's GPT technology, licensed through Microsoft Azure, rather than building their own large language models.
- 🏢 ByteDance is not mentioned on the apps' websites or in their terms of service, with three operated by Spring SGPT LTD and one by Polygon PTE.
- 🎭 The apps focus on entertainment and workplace simplification, with one app, CC, being particularly popular with over 10 million downloads.
- 📹 ByteDance is also exploring AI tools for short-form video generation and an AI image generator, indicating a move into the generative AI space to compete with other tech giants.
- 🌎 Only one of the apps, Co, is currently available in the US, with none in the EU, suggesting a testing phase in smaller markets before broader expansion.
- 📝 Spokesperson Jod Seth described the apps as still in the testing phase, with no further details on future plans.
- 🤔 There are concerns about potential scrutiny from regulators regarding the Chinese government's influence over ByteDance and the privacy of foreign users' data.
- 📈 The success of TikTok and the demand for bots may drive ByteDance to continue expanding its offerings in Western markets.
Q & A
Which company has quietly launched four new generative AI apps?
-ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has quietly launched four new generative AI apps.
What are the names of the four generative AI apps launched by ByteDance?
-The names of the four generative AI apps are CCI, Chit Chop, Co, and Bagel Bell.
How many downloads do the apps collectively have?
-The apps collectively have millions of downloads.
What type of platforms are CCI and Chit Chop?
-CCI and Chit Chop are bot creation platforms that allow users to make and share their own chat bots.
What is the primary function of Bagel Bell?
-Bagel Bell generates the plot and text of fictional stories that change based on reader choices.
Which technology do the apps rely on for their underlying large language models?
-The apps rely on OpenAI's GPT technology, accessed through a Microsoft Azure license.
Which subsidiary of ByteDance is running three of the new apps?
-Three of the new apps are run by Spring SGPT LTD, a new ByteDance subsidiary.
What is the focus of the apps CCI and Chit Chop?
-CCI and Chit Chop are largely focused on entertainment, offering bots based on fictional characters and romantic companions.
Which app has the most downloads according to the Google Play Store?
-CC is the most popular of the apps so far, with more than 10 million downloads according to the Google Play Store.
What is ByteDance's strategy regarding the launch of new apps?
-ByteDance's strategy involves launching test apps and then deprecating any that do not gain traction, as evidenced by their history with TikTok and other apps.
What is the current availability of the four new apps in the US and EU?
-Only one of the four new apps, Co, is currently available in the US, and none are available in the EU.
What is the potential concern regarding the use of ByteDance's AI apps?
-There is a potential concern that the Chinese government could leverage ByteDance's AI apps to collect private information about foreigners or use the company's control over their information to feed them pro-China messages.
Outlines
🚀 TikTok's Parent Company Launches Generative AI Apps
ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has quietly launched four generative AI apps outside of China named CCI, Chit Chop, and Bagel Bell. These apps, launched in the past three months, have already amassed millions of downloads. They are built on OpenAI's GPT technology through a Microsoft Azure license, rather than using ByteDance's own large language models. Three of the apps are operated by Spring SGPT LTD, a new ByteDance subsidiary, and one by Polygon PTE, another ByteDance subsidiary known for publishing web novels and video games. The apps primarily focus on entertainment and workplace efficiency, with one, CCI, being particularly popular with over 10 million downloads. ByteDance's move into generative AI is seen as part of a broader strategy to compete with other tech giants like Facebook, Snap, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, all of which are developing their own AI offerings. Only one of the apps, Co, is currently available in the US, with none in the EU. The apps are still in the testing phase, and ByteDance has not disclosed further plans. There is potential for future regulatory scrutiny due to concerns over data privacy and the possibility of the Chinese government influencing ByteDance's operations.
Mindmap
Keywords
ByteDance
Generative AI Apps
OpenAI’s GPT
Microsoft Azure
Chat Bots
Fictional Stories
Spring sgpt LTD
Polygon Pte
Generative AI Space
Regulatory Scrutiny
Data Privacy
Highlights
ByteDance, TikTok's owner, has quietly launched four new generative AI apps.
The apps are powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology.
ByteDance has not built the underlying large language models themselves.
The apps rely on OpenAI's GPT technology through a Microsoft Azure license.
Three of the apps are run by Spring SGPT LTD, a new ByteDance subsidiary.
The fourth app is run by Polygon PTE, another ByteDance subsidiary.
CCI and Chit Chop focus on entertainment with bots based on fictional characters and romantic companions.
Co provides bots intended to simplify workplace tasks.
Bagel Bell generates the plot and text of fictional stories that change based on reader choices.
The most popular app, CC, has over 10 million downloads according to the Google Play Store.
ByteDance's launch of these apps is part of their effort to compete in the generative AI space.
Tech giants like Facebook, Snapchat, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are also developing their own generative AI offerings.
Only one of the apps, Co, is currently available in the US, and none are available in the EU.
ByteDance's apps are still in the testing phase according to a spokesperson.
The company has a history of launching and then discontinuing apps that don't gain traction.
ByteDance's offerings include a WhatsApp competitor in Africa and a Spotify competitor in Southeast Asia.
There are concerns from regulators that the Chinese government could influence ByteDance to collect private information.
Bots are often trusted with sensitive personal information, making them a potential source of valuable data.
The transparency of bots' responses is limited, which could make them a conduit for covert influence.