Doubao with 380M MAU: Why Is ByteDance in a Hurry to Take Commissions from Hotel Transactions?

ByteDance's AI assistant Doubao, which has 380 million monthly active users, is aggressively moving into hotel booking transactions to charge commissions. The article explores why the company is in a hurry to monetize through hotel commissions, considering the vast user base and the competitive AI landscape. It suggests that Doubao aims to leverage its traffic to enter the online travel agency (OTA) market, competing with established players. The move is seen as a strategic effort to diversify revenue streams beyond advertising and to capitalize on the travel industry's recovery. The article also discusses potential challenges, such as user trust and competition from specialized travel platforms.