ByteDance Launches Cici: International AI Chatbot Taking on ChatGPT
pekin, zondag, 19 oktober 2025.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has quietly launched a new AI chatbot named Cici. The app, based on the popular Chinese chatbot Doubao, is already being promoted by several influencers in countries such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Indonesia. Cici offers conversations, image generation, and audio chat, but lacks some advanced features of Doubao. The launch comes at a time when competition in the AI market is intensifying and ByteDance is seeking new ways to expand its user base.
International Expansion of Cici
Cici is nearly identical to Doubao, the most popular AI chatbot in China, which has over 157 million monthly active users [1]. However, the app is region-locked and not available in China or the United States. This is likely because ByteDance already has Doubao in China and due to issues with TikTok in the United States [1]. Cici allows users to communicate via text or audio, analyse or generate images, but it lacks some advanced multimodal and social features that Doubao offers, such as music and video generation [1][2].
Marketing Strategy and Popularity
ByteDance has invested significantly in promoting Cici, with over 400 advertisements in Mexico and collaborations with influencers in countries like the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Indonesia [2]. In the United Kingdom, Cici ranked ninth among the most downloaded free apps in the App Store [1]. In Mexico, Cici was even the most downloaded free app on the Google Play Store last week [2]. This rapidly growing popularity indicates that Cici meets the demand for interactive and personal AI experiences [1][2].
Technology and Functionality
Cici utilises technologies from other ByteDance platforms such as PicPic and Coze, but also relies on OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini for text generation [2]. The app is designed with a friendly, cartoon-like avatar to offer a warm and inviting user experience [2]. Although Cici is free to use, the app contains advertisements, which fund its operations [1]. Cici supports multiple languages and is tailored to cultural nuances and regional communication styles, making it appealing to a broad international audience [2].
Competition and Challenges
The launch of Cici comes at a time when competition in the AI chatbot market is becoming increasingly fierce. Companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have strong positions with their respective platforms ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini [2]. Cici must distinguish itself through user-friendliness and regional adaptation, but it must also address concerns about data security and the potential for political propaganda that some users have with Chinese apps [1][2]. Dermot McGrath, a Shanghai-based technologist and investor, notes that Chinese AI companies are better at building consumer products that people want to use, thanks to their experience with dopamine-driven engagement [2].