ByteDance Fires Intern for Sabotaging AI Project
ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has fired an intern for “maliciously interfering” with the training of one of its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The company, however, rejected claims about the scale of the damage caused, stating that the reports contain “exaggerations and inaccuracies.”
Incident Sparks Online Buzz
Over the weekend, reports of the incident spread on social media, sparking concern over the extent of the damage to ByteDance’s AI efforts. The Chinese tech giant’s Doubao chatbot, a popular ChatGPT-like AI model, was said to be affected.
Despite the claims, ByteDance reassured the public that its online operations, including its large language models, were not impacted. The company clarified that the intern had no experience with the AI Lab and worked within the advertising technology team.
ByteDance Denies Major Losses
ByteDance also dismissed rumors that the sabotage had caused more than $10 million (£7.7 million) in damage by disrupting an AI training system consisting of thousands of powerful graphics processing units (GPUs). The company emphasized that its commercial AI operations remained unaffected.
Intern Fired and Incident Reported
The intern responsible for the sabotage was fired in August. ByteDance also reported the incident to the individual’s university and relevant industry bodies. The company’s swift action highlights its commitment to safeguarding its AI projects.
ByteDance’s Investment in AI
ByteDance, known for its advanced algorithms that drive the popularity of apps like TikTok and its Chinese equivalent Douyin, is heavily investing in AI technology. The company uses AI to power various applications, including Doubao and Jimeng, a text-to-video tool. Despite this incident, ByteDance remains a leader in AI innovation.
For more information on ByteDance and its AI projects, visit BBC News.
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