Snapchat rolled out the My AI chatbot for all users last week. In spite of a bunch of new features, many users have voiced their demand to delete the bot altogether.
Snapchat has maintained its status quo as the most popular social app for US teens for quite some time. In late February, embracing the latest trends in generative AI and chatbots, Snapchat unveiled its version of the My AI chatbot.
Powered by ChatGPT, the latest addition to Snapchat’s plethora of features was rolled out for its global user base last week.
ChatGPT, Generative AI, and Snapchat Summer Conference
ChatGPT took the entire world by storm when it was released in late 2022. It is a language-model AI designed to produce text and hold human-like conversations with its users. Whenever presented with a query or request in its text box, ChatGPT can process it and respond accordingly by fulfilling the task or answering the query based on the information available to the model.
Generative AI can learn the underlying pattern related to the input and generate plausible and creative content without human biases. As it continues to learn from the user itself, the entire experience becomes much more lively for the user. ChatGPT itself is the most famous example of generative AI released by Microsoft-backed Open AI.
After its release, tech giants like Microsoft have integrated ChatGPT itself with its Bing search engine for convenience, while Google has come up with its new iteration of generative AI called Bard. Jumping on the same bandwagon, Snapchat unveiled the feature list for its own AI chatbot at the Snap Summit 2024, the annual global conference showcasing Snapchat’s new features, innovations, and tools for developers.
My AI was created as an experimental chatbot that can answer trivia questions, give advice, assist with travel arrangements, make recipe suggestions, and more. It is intended to be a companion that can be used on a personal level. While the bot has only been available to Snapchat+ members so far, Snap announced that My AI will now roll out globally for all users.
A bouquet of customization, lenses, AR, and more
As showcased at the Snap Summit, My AI boasted a plethora of new features. It can be personalized with custom themes and wallpapers, and it can even converse by sending snaps, not only personally but also in group chats.
Apart from a new generation of filters powered by Generative AI, Snapchat also announced an improved ARES (Augmented Reality Enterprise Services) called AR Mirrors, allowing retailers to leverage AR and let their customers try on their products at home—in apps outside of Snap. Thus, customers can avoid long lines altogether at participating stores. Another new feature announced at the summit was the “After Dark” story feature, allowing users to share their late-night adventures and join communities with classmates.
The controversy over my AI
Several instances of usage of my AI shared on Twitter showed the bot to be playful and impressive. Some users were, however, let down by the bots’ sense of humor. On the other hand, a growing number of users were concerned about privacy and safety issues while using the bot.
Snapchat is already in the works to address the potentially harmful, violent, and dangerous content generated by the bot. A “Family Center” is in the works too, allowing parents to monitor their children’s conversations with AI. Frustrated over the lack of a straightforward removal option, several Snapchat users have taken to Twitter, tagging Snapchat’s official account and demanding the removal of My AI from their chat feed.
