Latest news with #Doubao
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
China's Manus AI shifts global HQ to Singapore
SINGAPORE: Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm Manus AI has shifted its headquarters from China to Singapore. This will permit access to key resources like Nvidia's high-quality chips, which are facing more restrictions in China due to U.S. export controls. Opening its new HQ in the city-state, Manus also plans to hire more than 20 local professionals, including AI engineers and data analysts, adding skills and funding to the area. The shift also saw it lay off staff in China, with about 40 core personnel transferred to Singapore. It signals confidence in Singapore as an AI hub. Manus AI's consumer-focused technologies, such as Doubao's voice cloning and video creation, could motivate local entrepreneurs and grow the tech scene. With operations in Tokyo and California, this change makes Singapore an important link between Eastern and Western tech markets. The global generative AI market, which deals in tools for creating text, videos, images and other content, is seeing strong growth. Industry estimates put its global value at US$36.6 billion (S$49.41 billion) in 2024 and could reach US$67.18 billion this year. This is forecast to grow to US$763.75 billion by 2032. However, this also brings challenges for Singapore. Manus is backed by a US$75 million investment from Benchmark Capital that valued it at US$500 million. This means local companies in Singapore will struggle to compete for talent and investment against such well-resourced companies. The expansion of Manus AI and other AI firms means that Singapore's ecosystem needs to address potential shortages, especially in AI infrastructure like data centres and graphics processing units (GPUs). This means local players will face heightened competition as they are often smaller in scale and either embrace rapid innovation or carve out a niche to survive. It also pulls Singapore into the drama of the U.S.-China tech rivalry, with the firm already under scrutiny by the U.S. Treasury Department. This is similar to concerns over Tiktok's data practices. This highlights a turbulent regulatory and political landscape. For entrepreneurs and companies in this space, the situation will increase the need to balance compliance with innovation. Meanwhile, authorities will have to strike a balance between maintaining Singapore's neutral status while also supporting tech growth. Companies like Shein and TikTok similarly maintain corporate HQs in Singapore. Attracting companies like Manus is more than just an economic shift; it's a strategic move. It signals strong sentiment in Singapore as an international business hub, but it also requires the state to keep promoting an environment that supports tech development while managing the challenges of global tech competition.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Baidu launches AI video generator, overhauls search features
China's Baidu on Wednesday launched an AI-driven video generator for businesses as well as a major upgrade to its search engine. The image-to-video model , called MuseSteamer , is capable of generating videos up to 10 seconds long and comes in three versions - Turbo, Pro and Lite. Over the past year, artificial intelligence heavyweights like OpenAI and big global tech companies have been expanding beyond chatbots to text-to-video or image-to-video generators. In China, ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba have also launched models. While many rival products, including OpenAI's Sora, target consumers with subscription plans, Baidu's MuseSteamer is aimed only at business users and a consumer app is not yet available. The search engine overhaul includes a redesigned search box that accepts longer queries and supports voice and image-based searches. The platform also displays more targeted content using Baidu's AI technology. Baidu has faced increasing pressure as AI-based chatbots such as ByteDance's Doubao and Tencent's Yuanbao become more popular.
Mint
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Baidu responds to Sora and other rivals with MuseSteamer and AI-enhanced search features
Chinese tech firm Baidu has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered video generation tool, MuseSteamer, alongside a significant update to its core search engine, as the company attempts to maintain relevance in an increasingly crowded AI landscape. The newly launched MuseSteamer model enables users to create short video clips, up to ten seconds in length, from still images. It comes in three variants: Turbo, Pro and Lite, each tailored to different levels of performance and processing capacity. However, unlike competitors offering consumer-facing tools, Baidu's model is currently restricted to business use, with no immediate plans for a public-facing version. The release comes as global and Chinese firms alike continue to shift focus from conversational AI towards more complex media-generation models. In China, Baidu joins a growing list of companies including ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba that have introduced their own AI-driven video tools. In addition to the video generator, Baidu has overhauled its search engine interface. The updated platform now allows longer and more complex search inputs and integrates voice and image-based queries. The search results are curated using Baidu's proprietary AI technology to deliver more refined content. The company has been under mounting pressure from domestic rivals, with ByteDance's Doubao and Tencent's Yuanbao AI chatbots gaining ground in popularity. Baidu's latest moves suggest a strategic pivot aimed at addressing both technological shifts and competitive threats within China's rapidly evolving AI sector. Earlier in March this year, Baidu has announced the release of two new artificial intelligence (AI) models. The Chinese technology giant introduced Ernie 4.5, a foundation model that builds upon its predecessor, and Ernie X1, a reasoning-focused AI designed for deep thinking. Notably, Baidu has also made its AI-powered chatbot, Ernie Bot, free for users, eliminating any premium charges. In its official statement, Baidu confirmed that Ernie 4.5 became accessible via the chatbot platform. (With inputs from Reuters)
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Baidu launches AI video generator, overhauls search features
China's Baidu on Wednesday launched an AI-driven video generator for businesses as well as a major upgrade to its search engine. The image-to-video model, called MuseSteamer, is capable of generating videos up to 10 seconds long and comes in three versions – Turbo, Pro and Lite. Over the past year, artificial intelligence heavyweights like OpenAI and big global tech companies have been expanding beyond chatbots to text-to-video or image-to-video generators. In China, ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba have also launched models. While many rival products, including OpenAI's Sora, target consumers with subscription plans, Baidu's MuseSteamer is aimed only at business users and a consumer app is not yet available. The search engine overhaul includes a redesigned search box that accepts longer queries and supports voice and image-based searches. The platform also displays more targeted content using Baidu's AI technology. Baidu has faced increasing pressure as AI-based chatbots such as ByteDance's Doubao and Tencent's Yuanbao become more popular.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Baidu launches AI video generator, overhauls search features
China's Baidu on Wednesday launched an AI-driven video generator for businesses as well as a major upgrade to its search engine. The image-to-video model, called MuseSteamer, is capable of generating videos up to 10 seconds long and comes in three versions: Turbo, Pro and Lite. Over the past year, artificial intelligence heavyweights like OpenAI and big global tech companies have been expanding beyond chatbots to text-to-video or image-to-video generators. In China, ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba have also launched models. While many rival products, including OpenAI's Sora, target consumers with subscription plans, Baidu's MuseStreamer is aimed only at business users and a consumer app is not yet available. The search engine overhaul includes a redesigned search box that accepts longer queries and supports voice and image-based searches. The platform also displays more targeted content using Baidu's AI technology. Baidu has faced increasing pressure as AI-based chatbots such as ByteDance's Doubao and Tencent's Yuanbao become more popular.
