奇速英语

Chinese tech company ByteDance recently launched an AI voice assistant for smartphones, which can work independently to help with daily tasks — reminding many of the AI in the movie “Her”, where the main character builds a close bond with his phone’s voice.

Powered by ByteDance’s popular Doubao large language model (LLM), this capable assistant can open browser tabs, book tickets, and search for phone data easily. For now, it’s only available on the Nubia M153 phone in limited quantities, but ByteDance plans to offer the tool to other Chinese phone makers.

Additionally, operating at the phone’s system level, the AI can “see” the screen and use apps freely. It can organize files, fill out forms, or even recommend restaurants based on a user’s budget and taste. The assistant also has a memory function, storing details such as meeting notes, addresses, or a child’s preferences, and setting them as reminders. 

This represents a big step forward from older voice assistants. Those systems often respond slowly and sound less natural. Usually, they convert speech to text, send it to a server to process, and then read the answer aloud. Doubao, however, uses a speech-to-speech method that makes replies faster and more natural. Users can even interrupt it while it is speaking, just like in a real conversation. Some Chinese media say Doubao’s updated voice sounds almost human, expressing emotions like joy or sadness naturally. Still, ByteDance notes the technology is still in testing and needs more improvement before wider release.

For tech and science-fiction enthusiasts, ByteDance’s new AI assistant is an exciting development. It suggests that the “Her” moment — when AI assistants can listen, understand, and act seamlessly (无缝地) — is no longer just a plot in movies, but a future that’s quickly approaching. As AI technology continues to advance, such intelligent tools are likely to become more common in people’s daily lives, bringing greater convenience and a more human-like experience.