AI-assisted films qualify for protection if shaped by human creativity. Pika 2.1, Hailuo, and Bytedance launch new AI video tools.

TikTok owner ByteDance on Wednesday released an update to its flagship AI model as a global race intensified to create AI models capable of tackling complex problems.

ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, has earmarked over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) in capital expenditure for this year, much of which will be centred on artificial intelligence, two people briefed on the matter said.

Chinese ByteDance reportedly plans a $20 billion capital expenditure in 2025, mainly targeting AI as the tech giant seeks to defend its AI lead back home. Sources who spoke to Reuters revealed the TikTok owner will pump a significant chunk of the total money (150 billion yuan or $20 billion) abroad into AI infrastructure development.

The development comes as the Beijing-based company faces pressure from the US government to sell its social media app TikTok.

The Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has rattled markets with claims its latest AI model performs on a par with those of OpenAI, despite using less advanced, more energy efficient computer chips.

ByteDance has launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered code editor in competition with American leaders like Cursor and Microsoft's Visual Studio Code, just after US President Donald Trump delayed the enforcement of a law requiring the company to divest TikTok.

TikTok parent ByteDance has launched an updated version of Doubao, China's most popular consumer-facing artificial intelligence (AI) app, as the tech giant accelerates AI development despite US export restrictions on advanced chips.

ByteDance's Doubao has emerged as a leading contender in China's competitive AI chatbot landscape. In December 2024, Doubao achieved an impressive 29% growth in downloads, reaching 9.9 million—the highest among all AI chatbot apps in the country,

ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, plans to invest $12 billion in AI chip technology by 2025. This strategic move indicates the company's commitment to advancing its technological infrastructure and enhancing its AI capabilities,

Social-media giant ByteDance, China's most valuable unicorn, on Thursday unveiled its Seed Edge initiative, a long-term artificial intelligence (AI) research programme that is expected to shore up the TikTok owner's efforts in the fast-developing technology.