On October 17, Wired released an article delving into how ByteDance's AI assistant, Doubao, has catapulted to become one of China's most sought-after chatbots. The article emphasizes that Doubao's monthly active user count has eclipsed that of DeepSeek, highlighting the critical role of user-centric design over mere technological prowess. By incorporating multimodal functionalities, minimizing entry barriers, and tapping into the cross-platform traffic from Douyin's ecosystem, Doubao has managed to captivate a diverse user base, extending its reach to elderly users as well. Data from QuestMobile indicates that as of August 2025, Doubao's monthly active users soared to 157 million, reflecting a 6.6% month-on-month surge. In contrast, DeepSeek witnessed a 4% drop in its user base, bringing it down to 143 million. Doubao's triumph can be attributed to its 'comprehensive and inclusive' approach. It supports a wide array of interaction modes, including text, voice, and video, while also generating images, tables, short videos, and other types of content. Additionally, it caters to personalized needs through customizable intelligent agents. Moreover, its seamless integration with Douyin has bolstered user engagement, enabling it to carve out a distinct niche in the Chinese market.
