ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has terminated an inte for 'maliciously interfering' with the development of one of its artificial intelligence (AI) models. However, the company dismissed claims that the damage caused was as extensive as some reports suggested, stating that they were 'exaggerated and inaccurate.'

This statement follows a wave of social media speculation over the weekend, which drew attention to the incident. ByteDance's AI model, Doubao, a ChatGPT-like generative AI tool, is the most widely used AI chatbot in China.

According to a statement from ByteDance, 'The individual was an inte in the [advertising] technology team and had no involvement with the AI Lab.' The company further clarified that inaccuracies were present in the inte 's social media profile and some media reports.

ByteDance reassured the public that its commercial operations, including its AI models, were not affected by the inte ’s actions. The company also dismissed reports claiming that the incident caused more than $10 million in damage by disrupting the AI training system, which runs on thousands of advanced graphics processing units (GPUs).

In response to the incident, ByteDance not only fired the inte in August but also notified the individual’s university and relevant industry organizations.

ByteDance, the operator of globally popular platforms like TikTok and its Chinese counterpart, Douyin, is recognized for its expertise in algorithm development. The company, like many other tech giants, is heavily investing in AI technology to enhance various applications, including Doubao and a text-to-video tool known as Jimeng.

The firing of the inte underscores ByteDance's commitment to protecting the integrity of its AI projects while reinforcing the importance of safeguarding the development process amid growing investment in artificial intelligence.
(colombotimes.lk)