ByteDance launches AI video app Jimeng AI, rivaling OpenAI’s Sora

TIK TOK — A man walks past the logo of Bytedance, the Chinese company that owns the short video app TikTok, at its office in Beijing, China, July 7, 2020. (Photo by Thomas Suen/Reuters)

ByteDance has launched Jimeng AI, a new app that converts text prompts into videos. This latest innovation puts ByteDance alongside a growing list of Chinese tech companies entering the emerging AI video market, a space that OpenAI is particularly keen on with its Sora model.

The Jimeng AI app, developed by ByteDance subsidiary Faceu Technology, is now available on the Apple App Store for Chinese users, after launching on Android on July 31. The app marks a major step by ByteDance into AI video content creation, a field that is seeing rapid advances and growing competition from other Chinese tech giants and startups.

The app lets users generate videos using simple text prompts, with subscription plans ranging from 69 yuan ($9.65) per month to 659 yuan ($92.18) per year. Each subscription tier allows for the creation of thousands of AI-generated videos and images per month, making advanced video production tools more accessible to a wider audience.

ByteDance, best known for its wildly popular short-form video app TikTok, is leveraging its expertise in video technology through Jimeng AI. The app is part of ByteDance’s Jianying business unit, known for its CapCut video-editing app, further solidifying ByteDance’s position in the digital content creation space.

The launch follows a wave of similar releases from other Chinese companies. Kuaishou, another major player in the video app market, recently introduced its Kling AI text-to-video model to a global audience, rolling it out in beta worldwide. Users can sign up with just an email address, underscoring its ease of access and drive for global integration of AI video tools.

Startups are also making significant progress in this area. Zhipu AI launched its Ying video generation model, and Shengshu soon followed with its Vidu app. These developments underscore the intense competition and rapid innovation in China’s AI video market.

The rise of AI video tools reflects a broader trend of Chinese companies investing in AI to gain a competitive edge. ByteDance’s move to launch Jimeng AI is seen as a response to OpenAI’s unveiling of its Sora text-to-video model, although Sora is not yet open to the public. The rivalry between these tech giants is likely to lead to further advances and accessibility in AI-powered video production.

For ByteDance, the launch of Jimeng AI is a strategic effort to tap into a market that promises significant growth and revenue potential. Subscription-based models for AI tools can significantly improve the financial performance of tech companies by providing a steady stream of revenue. This financial growth is critical as companies seek to offset the high costs associated with developing and maintaining advanced AI technologies.