ByteDance Accelerates AI Race with Cost-Efficient Image Generator

ByteDance has launched Seedream 4.0, a breakthrough AI image generator that processes visuals ten times faster than previous iterations while slashing costs to $0.03 per image. The MOVE directly challenges Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash Image in an increasingly commoditized generative AI market.

Priced at $30 per 1,000 generations for enterprises, Seedream 4.0 undercuts competitors through ByteDance's vertically integrated ecosystem. The tool deploys across Doubao AI and Volcano Engine, leveraging China's balanced regulatory approach to AI development.

The global AI image generation sector is projected to reach $2.63 billion by 2035, with pricing becoming a critical battleground. ByteDance's 99% consistency rate at 1.8-second generation speeds demonstrates how infrastructure advantages translate to commercial competitiveness.