China’s artificial intelligence industry experienced a surge of activity this week, highlighted by the launch of ByteDance’s new video-generating AI model, Seedance 2.0, which quickly garnered millions of views on Weibo, China’s leading microblogging platform. Released on Thursday, the model’s hashtags amassed tens of millions of clicks, making it a viral hit.
Users showcased the model’s sophisticated image quality and storytelling capabilities, generating videos from even the most unusual prompts. A notable clip, created by the model, featured rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Kim Kardashian in a dramatic setting based in Imperial China, performing in Mandarin. This video alone racked up 1 million views.
The excitement surrounding Seedance 2.0 reached new heights when billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk commented on a post praising the model on his social media platform X, stating, “It’s happening fast.” The model’s success has drawn comparisons to DeepSeek, a previous Chinese open-source rival to ChatGPT, which significantly impacted global AI players last year. In a commentary, state-run Beijing Daily remarked, “From DeepSeek to Seedance, China’s AI has succeeded.”
Another state-affiliated outlet, the Global Times, expressed that Seedance 2.0’s success has surpassed that of DeepSeek, fostering a wave of admiration for China’s progress within Silicon Valley. The narrative promoted by Chinese media aligns with the government’s ambitions to secure a leading position in the global AI landscape.
As text-based AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and DeepSeek’s R1 have become commonplace, models focusing on video and image generation represent the next frontier in potential disruptions. ByteDance is not the only company striving to capitalize on this burgeoning market; on Wednesday, Zhipu AI introduced its latest AI model, boasting enhanced coding abilities and the capacity to execute long-running tasks without user prompts.
Other firms are also gearing up to launch new models aimed at consumer appeal, hoping to outpace DeepSeek’s success. Several companies are timing their product launches with the upcoming Chinese New Year, which begins on February 15, a period when consumer interest typically peaks. Internet giant Alibaba is anticipated to unveil its Qwen 3.5 series during this time, reportedly featuring improved coding and mathematical reasoning capabilities. The company is also projected to invest about $431 million in promoting its Qwen AI application during the holiday.
DeepSeek is set to release its next-generation model, V4, with advanced coding capabilities by mid-February. This upcoming wave of launches is indicative of a larger trend in China’s AI sector, where companies are shifting focus from merely enhancing core model capabilities to integrating AI within consumer services. Alibaba’s Qwen chatbot has recently tested a feature allowing users to purchase goods directly through conversational prompts, reflecting commercial pressures to monetize AI investments.
Despite the successes, there is a growing expectation for upcoming models to deliver beyond initial achievements. “The surprise would be if some of these new models end up being underwhelming. I think there are high expectations here,” noted Alfredo Montufar-Helu, managing director at Ankura Consulting in Beijing.
China’s focus extends beyond AI applications. The country is actively recruiting top AI researchers and leads global AI research publications, reinforcing its commitment to becoming self-sufficient in technology. ByteDance is reportedly looking to develop its own AI semiconductors in collaboration with South Korea’s Samsung, aiming for an initial production of 100,000 units this year, with plans to scale to 350,000 units. If successful, this endeavor would mark a significant milestone for ByteDance, which has been pursuing chip development since 2022.
ByteDance’s competitors, including Alibaba and Baidu, are also advancing in AI chip development. Alibaba recently launched its Zhenwu chip for large-scale AI tasks. Baidu, on the other hand, sells chips to external clients and plans to list its Kunlunxin chip unit on the public market soon. These initiatives align with Beijing’s broader strategy to create a self-sufficient supply chain for critical technologies like semiconductors and AI, particularly in light of stringent U.S. export controls affecting access to advanced technologies.
This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang reiterated the importance of achieving breakthroughs in science and technology. Xi emphasized that “self-reliance and strength in science and technology” would be crucial for building China into a modern socialist nation, underscoring the national agenda to bolster domestic technological capabilities.
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