"ByteDance Expands into Biosciences with Foray into Drug Discovery"

ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, is expanding into the science and healthcare sectors, recruiting U.S. experts in computational biology, quantum chemistry, and drug design. The company's AI for Drug Design and AI for Science teams are working on projects that could revolutionize drug discovery using AI. While ByteDance's objectives remain unclear, the data from TikTok could potentially be leveraged for these initiatives, raising concerns about data privacy and the use of social media information in scientific research. This move may also be part of ByteDance's strategy to diversify its portfolio and improve its image amidst scrutiny and potential bans in the U.S.