Chinese developers of artificial intelligence software have already pulled ahead in domains like open-source and video generation. Now, one such developer is trying their hand at making AI models that can generate realistic worlds that users can explore, like immersive video games.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is developing such an AI, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. The Chinese tech giant is following the footsteps of Google and Meta Platforms, both of which recently unveiled similar video models, known as world models.

Like Google and Meta, ByteDance sees a lot of potential in world models, which simulate real-world environments and aim to approximate the physics of how objects move and humans interact with the surroundings. While there are obvious use cases for video games and virtual reality content, world models could also contribute to the overall advancement of AI and its real-world applications. For example, simulated environments and scenarios created by world models can be used to train the AI brains for highly intelligent robots or self-driving cars, possibly accelerating the development of such technologies.

At ByteDance, the company’s Seed department, which focuses on AI research and development, is working on the world model project. Zhou Chang, one of the department’s leaders who joined ByteDance last year from Alibaba Group, is overseeing the world model project, the people said. At Alibaba, Zhou was one of the key executives behind the firm’s highly regarded Qwen AI models.