ByteDance Plans AI Model Training with Huawei Chips

In response to U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chip exports, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly planning to develop a new AI model utilizing Huawei's Ascend 910B chips. This shift comes as the company seeks domestic suppliers to mitigate the impact of export curbs that have affected access to high-performance chips like those from Nvidia. Currently, ByteDance uses the Ascend 910B for less demanding AI tasks, but training a new AI model requires significant computational power. The new model is expected to be less powerful than ByteDance's existing Doubao model. Despite these developments, a TikTok spokesperson has denied that a new model is being developed. The situation reflects the broader context of escalating U.S.-China tech tensions, with ByteDance also collaborating with Broadcom to ensure a stable supply of advanced chips compliant with U.S. regulations. This collaboration highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Chinese tech companies in securing necessary technology amid national security concerns. Additionally, ByteDance, along with other major players in China, has gained a significant share of the generative AI infrastructure market, driven by the rapid adoption of AI technologies following the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022.