ByteDance's Doubao Subscription Faces User Reluctance in China
ByteDance's AI chatbot Doubao is introducing paid subscription plans in China, marking a shift for the sector. However, user reluctance poses challenges. A South China Morning Post survey of 12 AI users found 10 unwilling to pay, citing high prices and weak work performance. Wang, a user, prefers ChatGPT for productivity. Zhang Zonggai, a marketing professional in Guangzhou, is one of two willing to pay, but questions Doubao's reliability for professional tasks. ByteDance faces soaring computing costs as it tests monetization.
Key facts
- ByteDance is offering paid subscription plans on Doubao.
- Doubao's pay plans mark a turning point for China's chatbot sector.
- 10 out of 12 AI users surveyed by SCMP were reluctant to pay.
- Users cited high prices and weak work-related performance.
- Wang prefers ChatGPT over Doubao for productivity.
- Zhang Zonggai is willing to pay depending on feature quality.
- Zhang uses Doubao for search, translation, photo editing, and homework grading.
- ByteDance faces soaring computing costs.
Entities
Institutions
- ByteDance
- Doubao
- OpenAI
- ChatGPT
- South China Morning Post
Locations
- China
- Guangzhou