ByteDance (BDNCE) is launching an AI voice control service that will debut on a smartphone made by ZTE before becoming available on phones from other manufacturers in due course, Reuters reported.
The AI assistant is powered by ByteDance’s large language model, or LLM, Doubao, and allows users to voice-activate tasks like finding content and booking tickets, the report added.
The tool will compete with similar AI features from Chinese companies such as Xiaomi (OTCPK:XIACF) (OTCPK:XIACY) and Huawei Technologies. Apple (AAPL) has yet to make its Apple Intelligence available in China, though Alibaba (BABA) has said it would partner with the U.S. tech giant to develop AI features for iPhones in the country.
ByteDance’s AI voice feature will first appear on ZTE’s Nubia M153 handset, currently priced at 3,499 yuan (about $495). The phone is available for pre-order in limited quantities, the report noted.
Shares of ZTE jumped about 10% on Monday following reports of the phone as well as news that it had won some contracts to supply 5G equipment in Vietnam.
ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.
ByteDance said it has no plans to develop its own smartphones and is in discussions with several phone makers to roll out the AI voice assistant, the report added.
TikTok parent ByteDance has become the leading player in consumer AI apps in China due to its chatbot Doubao. Doubao had 159 million monthly active users in October, more than Tencent’s (OTCPK:TCEHY) (OTCPK:TCTZF) Yuanbao at 73 million and DeepSeek at 72 million, as per AI product tracking platform Aicpb.com, the report noted.