What is Seedance? The Chinese AI app sending Hollywood into a panic
BBC World
February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A new AI model called Seedance, developed by ByteDance (the company behind TikTok), has caused significant stir in Hollywood. This advanced AI tool can generate high-quality cinema videos, including sound effects and dialogue, using just text prompts. The app gained attention for creating clips featuring popular characters like Spider-Man and Deadpool, sparking copyright concerns from major studios like Disney and Paramount. These companies accused ByteDance of infringing on intellectual property rights, but the issue extends beyond legal battles to broader ethical and industry implications.
Seedance 2.0 stands out for its ability to seamlessly integrate text, visuals, and audio into compelling video content. Unlike other AI tools like Midjourney or OpenAI’s Sora, Seedance appears to replicate a professional production pipeline, creating realistic and complex action sequences that rival big-budget films. This capability has impressed industry experts, who note its potential to revolutionize video generation in creative industries.
However, the app’s use of copyrighted characters without authorization has raised alarms. Studios like Disney, which owns franchises such as Marvel and Star Wars, have
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/19/2026