TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance has reportedly started to sell the AI technology that works behind the Tiktok app to certain companies. These include companies from India as well where Tiktok is banned.
Which companies have bought the AI?
According to The Financial Times, ByteDance has kickstarted BytePlus, which is a new division responsible to sells its short video-making app AI. They have sold the Tiktok AI to companies including India-based social gaming platform GamesApp, US fashion app Goat, Singapore travel site WeGo, and Indonesian shopping app Chilibeli. There are other companies on the list too.
Tiktok’s ban in India
The Indian government has banned as many as 100+ Chinese apps to date. This array of applications included TikTok which was banned back in 2020. This was over concerns that the apps threatened the national security and defence of the country.
Just last month, Nikhil Gandhi, who is the India Head of TikTok, quit his job following the ban. The AI algorithm that we’re talking about, helped in generating the popular TikTok recommendation, which played a huge part in its success.
Reports suggest BytePlus is letting customers personalize TikTok’s recommendation algorithm for their respective apps. Additionally, BytePlus is offering automated speech and text translation along with real-time video effects and data analysis tools.
TikTok’s algorithms are responsible for its huge growth in recent years. These algorithms determine the videos users watch. Creators found it easier to grow on Tiktok due to the increased visibility the AI gave them.
The Chinese app’s recommendations are based on user interactions. If a user likes, shares, comments, creates a certain kind of content, their recommendations will be based on them. It also looks over the user’s device and account settings, language preferences, and location settings. TikTok’s source code and user data are all separate from ByteDance’s other businesses.
