ByteDance, a Chinese start-up that aggregates content for its users through artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, grew rapidly since it was founded in 2012. Today, it invests in AI technology and other online content providers around the world to enhance its products and services. Its ultimate objective is to be the world’s No. 1 online content destination.

1. AI In China: How Buzzfeed Rival
ByteDance Uses
Machine Learning To
Revolutionize The News

2. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
IntroductionIntroduction
Back in 2012 when ByteDance was founded by a then 29-year-old Zhang Yiming
who saw mobile devices were key in how information would be consumed in the
future, investors were skeptical that a news aggregator app would compete and
be profitable against what already existed. Well, it did.
ByteDance is currently valued at more than $75 billion and is recognized as an AI
tech leader. Its success can be attributed in large part to the artificial intelligence
and machine learning algorithms that deliver customized content feeds to its
users.
AI In China:
How Buzzfeed Rival ByteDance Uses Machine
Learning To Revolutionize The News

3. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ByteDance’s AI-Powered Products
The product ByteDance is most known for is Toutiao, literally translated as
“headlines,” but often referred to as the “Buzzfeed with brains.” It is a cross
between a search engine and social media platform that delivers personalized
content to each of its 120 million daily active users thanks to the AI algorithms
that power it. Rather than create its own content, Toutiao offers a continuous
stream of content from other online resources.
The company strategically expanded to include mobile video and other apps to
extend its influence beyond Toutiao. TikTok, known as Douyin in China, is a
platform that allows users to create and share 15-second videos and is designed
for the “new generation of creators.” In August 2018, ByteDance also merged
the musical.ly app into TikTok.

4. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ByteDance’s AI-Powered Products
Also under the ByteDance video-product umbrella are Zigua Video, one of
China’s most popular video platforms for professional and individual video
creators, and Vigo Video, called Huoshan in China, that provides a platform for
people to share stories and showcase their talent along with easy-to-use video
editing tools and special effects. News Republic, TopBuzz and BuzzVideo are
other ByteDance products that provide users with platforms to discover, enjoy
and share content.

5. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Powered by AI and Machine Learning
Whether it’s BuzzVideo or Toutiao, all of ByteDance’s products use artificial
intelligence and machine learning to deliver content that users want. The
company’s intelligent machines use computer vision and natural language
processing technology to understand and analyze written content, images and
videos. Then, based upon what the machines know about each user, they deliver
the content it believes each user would want.
As a user interacts with the content by taps, swipes, time spent with each article,
comments and more, large-scale machine learning and deep learning
algorithms continue to learn about a user’s preferences to refine its content
delivery for the future. The end result is a high-quality content feed based upon
each user’s preferences and interests. As more content is accumulated by the
system, the better the algorithms get to enhance the content experience.

6. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Powered by AI and Machine Learning
Since the underlying technology that powers ByteDance’s systems isn’t limited
by linguistic or cultural barriers, the company has expanded beyond China.
Currently, its global footprint includes China, Japan, South Korea, India, Europe,
Brazil, North America and Southeast Asia.

7. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
AI Innovation Lab
ByteDance has received accolades for being a top AI innovator from CBInsight
who recognized the company on its 2018 AI 100 List as well as from Fast
Company, who placed it on its most innovative companies list. In 2016, it
founded its AI Lab, a research division led by Wei-Ying Ma, formerly of Microsoft
Research Asia. The Lab’s primary focus has been on developing innovative
technologies to enhance ByteDance’s content platforms.
Just this year, ByteDance and U.S. chipmaker Intel announced their collaboration
for another AI innovation lab to develop AI applications. Intel’s software and
hardware expertise will complement ByteDance’s data processing capabilities
and help provide for its massive computing and storage needs.

8. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Dedicated To Staying The Leader
While not always recognized outside of China, ByteDance is committed to
staying a leader in AI innovation not only in China but ultimately in the world.
The company continues to invest and acquire other global content providers. It
plans to integrate its AI expertise into these new acquisitions to make them even
more valuable to end-users. It also recruits tech leaders away from its
competitors with unbelievable salaries—in some cases raises of 50 percent.
Despite competition from China’s three tech giants (Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent)
and some challenges with the Chinese government that caused Toutiao to be
shut down for noncompliance with the government’s news and social media
regulations which include promotion of “the core values of socialism,” it plans to
wield its incredible machine-learning platform for content to continue its
dramatic growth.
Will it become the world’s No. 1 online content destination? If it succeeds in
infiltrating the West, it’s got a pretty good shot.

9. © 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website
© 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website

10. Title
Subtitle
Be the FIRST to receive news,
articles, insights and event
updates from Bernard Marr & Co
straight to your inbox.
Signing up is EASY! Simply fill out
the online form and we’ll be in
touch!
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved

11. BernardMarr
hello@bernardmarr.com
www.bernardmarr.com