ByteDance

ByteDance launched Seed LiveInterpret 2.0, an end-to-end simultaneous interpretation model excelling in Chinese-English translation. It offers ultra-low latency (2-3 seconds) and accuracy rivaling human interpreters, exceeding 70% in complex scenarios and 80% in single-person speeches. Key features include zero-shot voice cloning and intelligent balancing of translation quality, latency, and speech cadence. Evaluations show it surpasses other systems, marking a significant advancement in AI translation.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, fired two former employees and withheld bonuses for violating ethics policies. An internal memo revealed a conflict of interest involving undisclosed relationships and false statements during the investigation. The ex-wife of one employee publicly thanked ByteDance for its handling of the situation, which stemmed from social media allegations concerning infidelity and abuse of power.

ByteDance, along with other tech giants, attracts employees with generous benefits packages exceeding salaries. Highlights include a daily 100 yuan meal allowance for three meals, offering diverse cuisines and snacks. Free taxi rides and rental subsidies are also provided. These comprehensive benefits, while potentially compensating for demanding work environments, significantly contribute to employee satisfaction and attract top talent.

ByteDance terminated two former employees involved in its Doubao large language model team for violating conflict of interest policies. A Seed team employee and their supporting HRBP failed to disclose their close relationship and made false statements during an investigation. The company dismissed both employees, withheld bonuses, and highlighted its commitment to ethical standards amid rapid AI growth. This follows a broader crackdown on internal misconduct at ByteDance.

Kantar, in partnership with Google, released the 2025 BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Global Brand Builders report, analyzing brand strength in 11 global markets. ByteDance led the rankings with a score of 2658, followed by Xiaomi and SHEIN. The report, surveying over 400 brands, highlights the performance and perception of Chinese brands internationally, considering export potential and overseas market trends.

President Trump has extended the potential deadline for a U.S. ban on TikTok to September 17, 2025, marking the third such extension. This follows a 2024 law mandating ByteDance divest TikTok or face a ban. ByteDance has stated it will not sell the app. Despite the ongoing legal uncertainties, TikTok’s global user base continues to grow, exceeding one billion monthly active users outside of China.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is restricting internal use of third-party AI tools like Cursor and Windsurf starting June 30th to mitigate data leakage risks. The company will prioritize its in-house assistant, Trae. This move, prompted by security concerns related to individual employee accounts and regional availability issues, is not a complete ban. Approved tools meeting compliance standards can still be requested and utilized after undergoing assessments.

ByteDance is phasing out third-party AI development software, like Cursor, by June 30th, citing data security concerns. Simultaneously, it’s prioritizing its in-house tool, Trae, which is designed to be an AI-driven coding support system. Trae, already deployed domestically and internationally, offers features like AI-powered code completion and agent-based programming, integrating leading AI models like GPT-4o and Claude-3.5-Sonnet, with a paid subscription available internationally.

ByteDance has denied rumors suggesting that internships are linked to bank deposits. The company clarified that its internship selection is based on established recruitment criteria and objective processes. These rumors emerged from reports of an internship program offered by Industrial Bank, allegedly targeting high-net-worth clients’ children, which has since been removed. ByteDance’s official 2025 internship program offers over 4,000 opportunities with potential full-time employment.