ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has confirmed the dismissal of an intern who allegedly sabotaged AI training efforts within its commercial technology team.
The company reported that the intern committed serious disciplinary violations by intentionally interfering with model training tasks. However, ByteDance emphasized that this incident did not impact any formal commercial projects or involve other significant businesses, such as its larger AI models.
The firm refuted claims suggesting the intern affected 8,000 GPUs or incurred tens of millions of dollars in losses, labeling such reports as “seriously exaggerated.” The intern was terminated in August, and their school was notified of the actions taken.
ByteDance is known for utilizing AI technology, particularly for content curation on platforms like Toutiao and TikTok’s “For You” algorithm. As it navigates ongoing scrutiny from U.S. officials regarding national security concerns, the company is also reportedly collaborating with Huawei to develop new AI models and chips.
