Popular social media platform TikTok’s owner ByteDance has debuted its first set of earbuds. Called the Ola Friend, the brand’s first buds have been introduced in its home market of China. The Ola Friend buds are linked to the company’s self-developed chatbot called Doubao. Notably, ByteDance’s chatbot is currently one of the most popular GenAI applications in the Chinese market with more than 47 million monthly active users.
TikTok owner ByteDance’s first earbuds are designed to serve as an audio assistant
Notably, TikTok owner ByteDance’s OIa Friend buds are designed to work as an audio assistant for the wearer. The wearable allows people to chat directly with the brand’s GenAI chatbot without having to pick up their phones. The chatbot works as an assistant when the user is traveling, practicing English, listening to music, or looking for company, said ByteDance.
Furthermore, users can install the ByteDance chatbot on their smartphone and connect to the earbuds. Then they can activate it using the voice prompt word “Doubao Doubao”. The prompt word is derived from the brand’s GenAI service that was launched last year. Notably, the service is powered by the company’s large lange model – the tech behind GenAI apps – that’s also dubbed Doubao.
Priced at around $170, the Ola Friend will be available only in China for now
ByteDance’s Ola Friend wireless earbuds feature a distinctive design and weigh 6.6 grams each. The wearable is priced at 1,199 Yuan, which is roughly $170 when converted. The earbuds are available to order on Alibaba Group Holding’s Tmall marketplace. In addition, consumers can also order them from JD.com and ByteDance’s own Douyin platform, which is the Chinese sibling of TikTok.
They will start shipping in the country from October 17. The audio accessory is offered in four color variants including Purple, Silver, Black, and White. ByteDance will only sell the earbuds in the Chinese market as its chatbot Doubao is only available there, which is the highlight of the accessory. The debut of the earbuds follows ByteDance completing its acquisition of Oladance, a maker of audio accessories.
