Scale, Speed, and Soul: AI Infrastructure for Human-Centred Experiences

BytePlus (ByteDance, TikTok) is one of the few companies building both engines of the modern creative economy: content production, and the algorithm that decides what gets seen. On the creation side, models like Seedance now turn a product photo into a brand-consistent commercial in a single pass. On the distribution side, the interest graph behind TikTok directs attention across tens of millions of new videos a day. The perspective reveals something much of the debate misses: when everyone can make anything, abundance doesn't raise the ceiling; it makes the scarce resource — creativity and originality — more valuable. James Caldwell will draw insights from ByteDance's data, demonstrating how the feed rewards human engagement and authentic work over volume and AI filler. This keynote makes the case from inside the machine: scale and speed are now table stakes, and judgment, taste and soul become the competitive edge for brands, creators and platforms.