AI's Next Chapter: Growth Through Cooperation

Standing before industry leaders at the 2025 FORCE Original Power Conference, Tan Dai of Volcano Engine painted an optimistic picture of AI's future. "We're not playing a winner-takes-all game," he explained. "The real opportunity lies in growing the entire market together."

The Numbers Tell the Story

Dai forecasts the large model market will multiply tenfold by 2026 - a staggering projection that underscores how quickly AI is moving from experimentation to essential business tool. But how do we measure this transition? According to Dai, it's all about usage: "Models prove their worth when people actually use them," he noted, pointing to Token call volumes as the true test of value.

Beyond the Hype Cycle

While excitement builds around AI-powered devices like "AI phones," Dai urges perspective: "Users don't care if it's called an Agent or an APP. They care about solutions that work simply and affordably." He highlights countless everyday needs still waiting for smarter solutions - suggesting the real AI revolution will happen quietly in practical applications rather than through flashy announcements.

The Rise of AI Agents

Dai calls 2025 the "Year of the Agent," with widespread adoption expected in 2026. Current applications span from automating office tasks to creating video content, but two major shifts are coming:

• Quantity Leap: Companies will deploy hundreds of agents compared to just dozens today
• Quality Shift: Agents will move beyond simple tasks into complex business operations and specialized fields like engineering

As ByteDance's intelligent technology arm, Volcano Engine aims to make AI not just functional but genuinely useful through its Doubao model platform. Dai's vision suggests the next phase won't be about who has the most advanced technology, but who can best integrate it into real-world workflows.

"When this wave hits," Dai concluded, "the winners won't be those racing ahead alone - but those building fleets to navigate the future together."

Key Points:

• Market explosion: Large model sector projected to grow 10x by 2026
• New rules: Cooperation beats competition in expanding AI adoption
• Practical focus: Real-world problem-solving trumps technical one-upmanship
• Agent revolution: Enterprise AI tools entering mainstream business operations