ByteDance has upgraded its AI chatbot, Doubao, to version 2.0, just in time for the Lunar New Year holiday. This launch aims to reinforce its market dominance after last year’s surprise from DeepSeek. Designed for the “agent era,” Doubao 2.0 enhances multi-step task execution, boasting capabilities akin to OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 and Google’s Gemini 3 Pro, while significantly reducing operating costs. With 155 million weekly users, Doubao outpaces DeepSeek’s 81.6 million, yet faces pressure from Alibaba’s aggressive Qwen AI promotions. The ongoing AI competition in China is intense, driven by both domestic innovations and U.S. export restrictions. ByteDance’s commitment to AI includes a significant investment of 160 billion yuan for 2026, reflecting its ambition to lead in user engagement and technological advancement. As the holiday period serves as a critical battleground, Doubao 2.0’s performance could solidify its lead amidst fierce competitor activity.
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