ByteDance Launches Doubao 2.0 as China’s AI Chatbot Race Intensifies

BEIJING, Feb 14 (GeokHub) — ByteDance has introduced Doubao 2.0, the latest upgrade to its flagship artificial intelligence chatbot, as competition in China’s fast-growing AI market accelerates.

The company said the updated version enhances performance and user experience, building on Doubao’s position as China’s most widely used AI application, according to data from industry analytics firm QuestMobile.

China’s AI Competition Heats Up

The launch comes one year after Chinese startup DeepSeek disrupted global technology markets with a low-cost AI model that intensified domestic competition.

Since then, Chinese tech firms have stepped up investments in generative AI tools, racing to release more advanced models designed to appeal to both enterprise users and everyday consumers.

Doubao 2.0 reflects a broader push among China’s technology giants to refine conversational AI capabilities, expand multimodal features, and strengthen integration across digital ecosystems.