ByteDance joins OpenAI’s Sora rivals in launching AI video app

ByteDance has expanded its offering of text-based video-generating software, joining a growing group of Chinese tech companies entering the emerging market that is also being targeted by ChatGPT app creator OpenAI.

Since Microsoft-backed OpenAI unveiled its not-yet-open-for-public-use text-to-video model Sora in February, Chinese companies have been quick to develop similar tools, with several starter models available for users. ByteDance has launched Jimeng AI, a text-to-video software developed by Faceu Technology, which is now available on the Apple App Store. It follows other Chinese companies like Kuaishou and Zhipu AI that have entered the AI-powered video creation market, a space that OpenAI’s upcoming Sora model is also targeting. Jimeng AI offers monthly subscriptions starting at 69 yuan ($9.65).

The Jimeng AI app, developed by Faceu Technology, a ByteDance subsidiary, is now available on the Apple App Store for Chinese users. The app was released for Android on July 31, according to a Reuters check on Tuesday.

The launch of the text-to-video model by the company that owns short-video app TikTok follows a series of similar models launched in China in recent months.

Kuaishou, one of China’s largest video apps, rolled out its Kling AI text-to-video model to a global audience late last month. Its beta version is available worldwide, and registration requires only an email address.

Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI also unveiled its Ying video generation model last month, and a few days later, another startup, Shengshu, officially launched its Vidu app.

Faceu Technology operates under ByteDance’s Jianying subsidiary, known primarily for its video editing app CapCut.

Jimeng AI offers subscriptions for 69 yuan ($9.65) per month, 79 yuan for one month, or 659 yuan per year. Each plan allows users to create about 2,050 images or 168 AI videos per month.

(1 dollar = 7.1501 Chinese yuan)