ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, is entering the smartphone intelligent assistant market. Unlike competitors such as Google and Apple, the company does not plan to launch its own smartphone. Instead, ByteDance aims to integrate its artificial intelligence technology directly into devices from major manufacturers through strategic partnerships. This approach marks the debut of the Doubao Mobile Assistant, an AI-driven system designed to integrate deeply with Android and transform how users interact with their phones.
The purpose of Doubao is to deliver a multifunctional AI experience capable of performing a wide range of tasks. The assistant can edit images, make reservations, compare prices, control media playback, and execute complex commands through text or voice. The first step in this rollout is the Nubia M153, a prototype smartphone developed in collaboration with ZTE. This device serves as a testing platform for Doubao, which will receive biweekly updates until March 2026. ByteDance is relying on this extended improvement cycle to enhance the assistant’s performance, a crucial strategy at a time when the global social media market shows signs of saturation and TikTok faces political challenges in the United States.
The Nubia M153 includes notable specifications such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, three 50 MP cameras, and even a physical button dedicated to the Doubao assistant. Priced at €420 (approximately $489) in China, the device is surprisingly affordable considering its hardware capabilities. However, it is important to note that the M153 is not intended for commercial release. As a prototype, some features remain in early development, including the camera system, and may exhibit instability. Despite this, the project paves the way for potentially more ambitious strategies in the future.
There are also rumors that ByteDance may pursue collaborations beyond Android manufacturers. Reports suggest the company is interested in working with Apple, particularly in relation to Apple Intelligence, which is expected to launch in China in the coming months but has not gained strong acceptance outside Apple’s core leadership markets.
With the introduction of the Doubao Mobile Assistant, ByteDance appears determined to demonstrate that artificial intelligence is more than a passing trend. The company aims to shape the future of digital interaction through deeply integrated AI experiences. If ByteDance manages to replicate the impact it achieved with TikTok, the virtual assistant market may soon see a major new competitor emerge.
Filed in . Read more about AI (Artificial Intelligence), Nubia, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Tiktok, Voice Assistant and ZTE.