According to AI Technology Review, ByteDance's AI Lab is reportedly set to be fully integrated into the Seed team. This significant shift marks a major restructuring of ByteDance's internal AI research and development framework.
Established in 2016, ByteDance's AI Lab was once the core of ByteDance's AI research, led by Ma Weiying and reporting directly to Zhang Yiming. At its peak, the team comprised 150 researchers, focusing on cutting-edge AI technologies. Its contributions were instrumental in the development of ByteDance's recommendation algorithms, short-video effects, and the rise of products like Douyin (TikTok), establishing ByteDance as a leader in China's AI sector.
However, with the market dominance of Douyin and TikTok solidified, the AI Lab's role evolved. In 2020, it transitioned from a group-level forward-looking project to a technology platform serving commercial teams. Ma Weiying's reporting line changed to Zhang Nan, and he subsequently left the company that same year, with Li Hang taking over. Starting in 2023, parts of the AI Lab were gradually transferred to the Seed team.
To gain a competitive edge in the large language model race, ByteDance established Flow and Seed, with Seed dedicated to large model R&D and actively recruiting top talent. In February of this year, Wu Yonghui joined as the head of fundamental research at Seed, with Li Hang reporting to him. Wu Yonghui's previous internal restructuring, including the creation of virtual teams and streamlining reporting processes, makes the AI Lab's integration into Seed a crucial step in his broader reorganization. This change opens up exciting new possibilities for ByteDance's future direction in the AI field.
