ByteDance, the Chinese tech company best known for TikTok, has launched a new artificial intelligence tool called Seedream 4.0. As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the company claims this AI model performs better than Google DeepMind’s image generator known as “Nano Banana” (officially Gemini 2.5 Flash Image).
What is Seedream 4.0?
Seedream 4.0 is developed by ByteDance’s Seed department, which works on AI innovations. The model combines two major capabilities:
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Text-to-image generation – creating new visuals from written prompts.
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Image editing features – modifying existing pictures using simple text instructions.
This puts it in direct competition with Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, which gained strong reviews after its release in late August for accuracy and reliability.
ByteDance’s Performance Claims
ByteDance tested Seedream 4.0 on its in-house platform MagicBench. The company said the model scored higher than Google’s tool in three areas:
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Prompt accuracy – how well the image matches the text.
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Image alignment – how well the objects and layout are arranged.
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Visual quality – the overall look and sharpness of images.
Despite these claims, ByteDance has not yet published a technical report to back up the results. Independent benchmarking firm Artificial Analysis described Seedream 4.0 as a “significant evolution” compared to ByteDance’s older AI models, suggesting it is a major step forward in the company’s AI research.
Speed and Architecture Upgrades
According to SCMP, Seedream 4.0 comes with a new architecture that makes the system far more efficient. ByteDance stated that the tool can now generate images over 10 times faster than earlier versions, greatly improving usability.
User Reactions
Feedback from early users has been positive. Many praised the editing feature, which allows them to make fast changes to pictures using only text prompts. This ease of use has been highlighted as one of Seedream 4.0’s strongest points.
Availability
Seedream 4.0 has already been released in China. Users can access it on ByteDance’s apps Jimeng and Doubao AI. For business clients, the tool is also available through ByteDance’s cloud platform Volcano Engine.
Global AI Race
This launch shows China’s growing influence in the worldwide AI industry. With companies like ByteDance pushing into advanced creative tools, competition with US-based firms such as Google DeepMind is becoming more intense.
In August 2025, Google DeepMind launched Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, also called “Nano Banana”, earning praise for accuracy and consistency. A month later, ByteDance released Seedream 4.0, developed by its Seed department. ByteDance claims the new model outperforms Gemini 2.5 in prompt accuracy, alignment, and visual quality, based on its MagicBench tests, though no technical report has been published. Independent firm Artificial Analysis called it a “significant evolution.” Seedream 4.0 also features a new architecture that makes image generation 10 times faster than earlier versions. While Gemini 2.5 is available globally, Seedream 4.0 is currently limited to China via Jimeng, Doubao AI, and corporate cloud service Volcano Engine.
Also Read: Gemini Nano Banana Image Tool Goes Viral on WhatsApp – How to Use It
