Chinese technology company ByteDance’s artificial intelligence chatbot Doubao Photo: VCG

　　Chinese technology company ByteDance’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Doubao has recently displayed a service statement for paid subscription tiers on its App Store page, drawing broad public attention. The company confirmed the matter to the Global Times on Monday, saying that details of the plan are still being tested.

　　The topic once topped the trending list on Sina Weibo on Monday and was marked with the label “explosive,” reflecting strong public interest in whether one of China’s most widely used AI applications will move further toward commercialization.

　　A statement seen on Doubao’s App Store page said that, in order to better serve professional users, Doubao will launch paid versions with more value-added services on top of its free version.

　　The page also disclosed three subscription tiers: the standard version at 68 yuan ($9.4) per month for a recurring monthly subscription, or 688 yuan per year; the enhanced version at 200 yuan per month, or 2,048 yuan per year; and the professional version at 500 yuan per month, or 5,088 yuan per year.

　　The company told the Global Times on Monday in response to reports of a paid subscription offering that Doubao will keep providing fully free services. Building on its free offerings, it is exploring additional value-added services to cater to the diverse and differentiated needs of users.

　　The company added that relevant details of the plan are still in the testing stage, and full information will be released through official channels when it is formally launched.