ByteDance is not satisfied with TikTok and has just started a new race: one that leads it to create its own AI chip

ByteDance, the parent company behind the global phenomenon TikTok, is reportedly embarking on a significant new venture: the development of its own artificial intelligence chips. This strategic move signals a departure from its social media roots and a deep commitment to the burgeoning field of generative AI, aiming to bolster its capabilities in this rapidly evolving sector. The initiative underscores a broader trend of tech giants seeking to control their hardware destiny to optimize AI performance. Sources suggest that ByteDance is in discussions with Samsung Electronics for the manufacturing of these proprietary AI chips, tentatively named "Seedchip." This development follows ByteDance's creation of advanced AI models such as Doubao, positioned as a competitor to leading platforms like GPT-5 and Gemini. The potential integration of custom-designed hardware could offer significant performance advantages and greater control over its AI infrastructure, differentiating it further in the competitive AI landscape. This ambitious project has implications for the global AI hardware market, traditionally dominated by a few key players. By developing its own AI chips, ByteDance aims to reduce reliance on external suppliers and potentially create more efficient and specialized processing units for its AI applications. While a ByteDance spokesperson has described the plans as "imprecise," the underlying ambition to innovate in AI hardware is clear, positioning the company as an increasingly influential force in the technological race.