ByteDance Targets Sample Chips by March, Plans 100,000 AI Units in 2026

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly accelerating its artificial intelligence ambitions by developing an in-house AI chip and holding manufacturing discussions with Samsung Electronics. According to Reuters, the Chinese technology giant aims to receive sample chips by the end of March and produce at least 100,000 AI units in 2026, with production potentially scaling to 350,000 units. The initiative highlights ByteDance’s growing focus on AI inference, infrastructure expansion, and strategic positioning in China’s intensifying AI race alongside Alibaba and Tencent.