ByteDance, the company behind TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin, has officially entered the smartphone AI assistant race. The Chinese tech giant has unveiled a new artificial intelligence voice control tool designed to bring hands-free, intelligent assistance to mobile users across China. The feature will debut on a device produced by ZTE Corp before expanding to phones from other manufacturers.
The launch marks a significant step for ByteDance as it deepens its presence in AI-powered consumer products and positions itself to compete with established smartphone makers that are rapidly integrating artificial intelligence into their devices.
Debut on ZTE’s Nubia M153 Smartphone
ByteDance’s new AI voice assistant will first appear on ZTE’s Nubia M153, a smartphone that is currently in prototype form. The device is priced at 3,499 yuan (around $495) and is available for pre-order in limited quantities.
By selecting ZTE as its first hardware partner, ByteDance is taking a collaborative approach rather than building its own phones. The company confirmed that it has no intention of developing smartphones independently. Instead, it plans to work closely with various phone manufacturers to bring its AI features to a broader range of devices.
Shares of ZTE jumped 10% on Monday following the announcement—reaching their highest level since late October. The stock surge was driven by excitement around the upcoming Nubia handset and additional news that ZTE had secured multiple contracts to supply 5G equipment in Vietnam.
Powered by ByteDance’s Doubao Large Language Model
At the heart of this new voice assistant is Doubao, ByteDance’s increasingly popular large language model (LLM). Doubao has been gaining traction in China’s competitive AI landscape, and its integration into smartphone features is expected to accelerate its growth further.
The AI assistant allows users to complete tasks by simply speaking commands. Functions include:
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Searching and discovering content
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Booking tickets
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Accessing apps or information hands-free
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Navigating daily tasks using natural voice instructions
By offering these capabilities, ByteDance aims to create an AI ecosystem that matches the convenience and intelligence of smartphone assistants offered by Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple—though Apple’s latest AI features are not yet available in China.
Competing With China’s AI-Enhanced Smartphone Ecosystem
Chinese smartphone makers have been racing to integrate AI into their devices. Huawei and Xiaomi have both introduced new AI-powered features, from advanced camera systems to intelligent assistants capable of real-time content recognition and predictive suggestions.
ByteDance’s entry adds another major player to the mix. Unlike traditional smartphone manufacturers, ByteDance’s strength lies in software, algorithms, and large-scale content platforms. This gives the company a unique advantage: it can deeply integrate AI with media consumption, entertainment, and user behavior patterns already gathered across Douyin and other apps.
While Apple has introduced “Apple Intelligence” globally, those features have not yet launched in China. This delay creates an opportunity for local AI providers to capture market share and shape consumer expectations.
ByteDance has also stated that it is in talks with several other smartphone makers. If these negotiations move forward, the Doubao-powered assistant could soon appear across multiple brands, strengthening ByteDance’s influence in the Chinese mobile ecosystem.
ByteDance’s Rising Influence in Consumer AI Apps
ByteDance has quickly become one of the leading forces in China’s AI app market thanks to Doubao’s rapid user growth. According to AI product tracking platform Aicpb.com, Doubao reached 159 million monthly active users in October. This puts it far ahead of competitors:
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Tencent’s Yuanbao: 73 million users
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DeepSeek: 72 million users
This strong adoption makes Doubao the clear front-runner among Chinese AI chatbots, highlighting ByteDance’s ability to scale new technologies across millions of users.
The introduction of the voice assistant further extends Doubao’s reach. Instead of being limited to chatbots and apps, ByteDance is now positioning its AI to become a core feature of everyday smartphone use—similar to Siri, Google Assistant, or Huawei’s Xiaoyi.
No Plans for ByteDance-Branded Smartphones
In a statement released on Monday, ByteDance emphasized that it does not plan to manufacture its own smartphones. The company intends to focus on AI software and cloud technology rather than hardware production.
By avoiding the hardware market, ByteDance can partner with a wider range of phone makers, giving it the flexibility to integrate its AI features broadly. This approach mirrors strategies used by major AI companies outside China, which prioritize software dominance over device manufacturing.
By enhancing existing smartphones rather than building new ones, ByteDance also avoids competing directly with companies like Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi—all of which have deeply established hardware lines.
Why ByteDance’s AI Rollout Matters
The rollout of ByteDance’s AI voice assistant signals several important trends in China’s rapidly evolving tech landscape:
1. AI Is Becoming a Standard Feature in Smartphones
Consumers expect intelligent, easy-to-use AI tools that simplify daily tasks. ByteDance’s entry accelerates this shift.
2. Voice-controlled AI could dominate the next phase of mobile interaction
With Doubao’s language capabilities, users can operate their phones more naturally, without relying on typing or touch navigation.
3. Competition in China’s AI industry is intensifying
ByteDance, Tencent, Huawei, and Xiaomi are all racing to secure leadership in consumer AI, creating an environment of rapid innovation.
4. ByteDance’s ecosystem provides a major advantage
With Douyin, TikTok, and a wide network of apps, ByteDance can integrate AI across settings that millions of users interact with daily.
5. Apple’s delayed AI rollout in China opens a window
While Apple plans to bring its new AI features to international markets, its absence in China gives local companies an opportunity to fill the gap.
A Strategic Move Toward AI-Driven Consumer Experiences
With fierce competition in the Chinese smartphone market, ByteDance’s new AI voice assistant represents a powerful new direction for the company. By blending its popular Doubao LLM with mobile hardware from established brands, ByteDance is positioning itself as a major provider of AI services that enhance both productivity and entertainment.
As partnerships with additional manufacturers develop, ByteDance’s AI voice assistant could become a common feature on Chinese smartphones—further cementing the company’s dominance in the consumer AI space.
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