Seedance 2.0 Launch Receives Global Attention

In a significant advancement for artificial intelligence, Chinese technology giant ByteDance officially unveiled its AI video-generation model, Seedance 2.0, on Thursday. This launch follows a period of successful beta testing and introduces tight controls on uploads that feature real-person images and videos, marking a noteworthy step in the company's ongoing innovation in technology.

The unveiling generated considerable buzz, particularly after an X user, known as 'levelsio', shared a short film created with Seedance 2.0. The film's visuals were notably more realistic and detailed than those produced by Google's Genie 3, prompting Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, to remark on the rapid pace of these technological advancements.

Liu Gang, chief economist at the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies, emphasized that the gap between Chinese and leading overseas video generation models is quickly diminishing. Liu asserted that in certain areas, the capabilities of Seedance 2.0 have already surpassed those of its foreign competitors.

Liu noted that this breakthrough is not merely coincidental; it is the outcome of years of data accumulation and continuous technological evolution. He highlighted that the foundation of Seedance 2.0 has been strengthened through extensive short video datasets and repeated real-world applications.

Additionally, he pointed out that systemic innovations in training paradigms and structural optimizations in large language models have facilitated rapid advancements, positioning domestic players on par with, and in certain aspects ahead of, global peers.

While the Seedance 2.0 team acknowledges that the model is still a work in progress with inherent flaws, they are dedicated to refining it based on user feedback. Their goal is to provide more reliable and creative tools tailored for content creators.

Currently, Seedance 2.0 is accessible via the Doubao mobile app, desktop client, and web version, as well as through the Dreamina app and web platform. However, its cutting-edge capabilities have raised concerns over the potential creation of hyper-realistic fake videos, which could challenge existing intellectual property rights and content review practices.

In response to these concerns, ByteDance has mandated that users wishing to create AI videos featuring themselves must undergo identity verification, involving audio and video recordings to develop a digital avatar. Additionally, the desktop and web versions of Doubao and Dreamina explicitly do not support the upload of real human facial materials.

Chinese regulators have instituted several measures aimed at addressing issues surrounding personal privacy and intellectual property rights. These measures include the requirement for clear labeling of AI-generated content, whether explicit or implicit, and a prohibition on the generation of illegal or harmful material.

Feng Ji, CEO of Game Science, expressed his relief that Seedance 2.0 was developed in China, signaling strategic confidence in the nation’s technological governance. Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, echoed this sentiment, stating that the establishment of a registration and labeling system for AIGC in China enhances the global influence of local standards for AI management.