TikTok owner company launches Ola Friend headphones with Doubao chatbot integration

ByteDance, the owner of the popular social network TikTok, has unveiled its first headphones called Ola Friend.

Here's What We Know

These headphones are designed to work as an audio assistant, allowing users to communicate with the Doubao chatbot developed by ByteDance, which has over 47 million monthly active users in the Chinese market. The chatbot can help with travelling, learning English, listening to music and other tasks. Users can activate the chatbot with the voice command "Doubao Doubao" by installing it on a smartphone and connecting it to headphones.

The Ola Friend headphones weigh 6.6 grams each and cost around $170. They are available to order on the Tmall, JD.com and Douyin, the Chinese analogue of TikTok, platforms. ByteDance will only sell the headphones in the Chinese market, as the Doubao chatbot is available exclusively there. The debut of the headphones follows ByteDance's acquisition of Oladance, an audio accessory maker.

The headphones will be available from October 17 in four colour options including purple, silver, black and white.

Source: SCMP