Snapchat unveils AI chatbot for all users, powered by ChatGPT
Snapchat has announced that its My AI chatbot, which is powered by ChatGPT, is now accessible to all users within the app. Previously, the feature was only available to paying Snapchat+ subscribers. My AI is customizable and offers recommendations, answers questions, helps users make plans, and can even write a haiku in seconds. Users can also bring it into conversation with friends by mentioning "@MyAI," give it a name, and design a custom Bitmoji avatar to personalize it further.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, recently opened up access to its chatbot to third-party businesses, and Snap, Instacart, and tutor app Quizlet were among the early partners experimenting with adding ChatGPT. Since its public release in November 2022, ChatGPT has impressed users with its ability to generate original essays, stories, and song lyrics in response to user prompts. The tool's success has renewed an arms race among tech companies to develop and deploy similar AI tools in their products.
While the initial batch of companies tapping into ChatGPT's functionality each has slightly different visions for how to incorporate it, they may test just how useful AI chatbots can really be in our everyday lives and how much people want to interact with them for customer service and other uses across their favorite apps. However, adding ChatGPT features may come with some risks. The tool, which is trained on vast troves of data online, can spread inaccurate information and has the potential to respond to users in ways they might find inappropriate.
Snap acknowledged these risks in a blog post on Wednesday, stating that My AI is far from perfect but that the company has made a lot of progress. About 99.5% of My AI responses conform to community guidelines, and Snap has made changes to help protect against responses that could be inappropriate or harmful. The company has also added moderation technology and included the new feature in its in-app parental tools. Snap plans to use early learnings to make AI a more safe, fun, and useful experience and is eager to hear users' thoughts.
The release of My AI to all Snapchat users marks a significant step forward in the integration of AI technology into social media and communication platforms. By making the tool accessible to all users, Snapchat is taking a big leap towards offering more personalized and engaging experiences for its users.
Snapchat's move comes as part of a larger trend among tech companies to incorporate AI-powered chatbots into their products. AI chatbots can be used to offer personalized customer support, provide recommendations, and even generate original content for users. As the technology continues to improve, it's likely that we'll see more and more AI-powered features added to our favorite apps and services.
While AI chatbots offer many potential benefits, they also come with some risks. As mentioned earlier, the tool is trained on vast troves of data online, which means that it can potentially spread inaccurate information or respond inappropriately to users. However, Snap's efforts to incorporate moderation technology and community guidelines show that the company is taking these risks seriously and is committed to creating a safe and engaging experience for its users.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how users respond to My AI and other AI-powered chatbots in the coming years. Will users embrace these tools as a helpful addition to their daily lives, or will they reject them as an invasion of privacy and a potential source of misinformation? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: AI technology is here to stay, and it's likely to have a major impact on the way we communicate and interact with technology in the years to come.