Snapchat has revealed the debut of its latest AI-driven chatbot, named “My AI.” Powered by OpenAI’s latest version of ChatGPT, the launch of this chatbot is being viewed as a potential game-changer by Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel. He believes that AI chatbots will soon become commonplace in our daily interactions with technology, and the introduction of “My AI” is part of that strategy.
According to a recent statement by Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel, the company’s new chatbot, “My AI,” will be fixed to the chat tab above users’ conversations with friends. The bot will be exclusively accessible to Snapchat Plus subscribers for $3.99 per month initially. However, Spiegel has shared that the company intends to make it accessible to all 750 million monthly users of Snapchat eventually.
The chatbot is designed to adhere to the company’s trust and safety guidelines and will not give responses that include swearing, violence, sexually explicit content, or opinions on controversial topics like politics. The goal is to keep tuning the bot as more people use it and report inappropriate answers.
A New Persona for AI
Unlike other large language models (LLMs), Snap’s implementation of My AI treats generative AI more like a persona. The chatbot’s profile page looks like any other Snapchat user’s profile, complete with its own alien Bitmoji. My AI is meant to be another friend inside of Snapchat for users to hang out with, not just a search engine.
Snapchat’s decision to design “My AI” as a persona rather than a search engine could prove to be a wise move. As the example of Bing’s implementation of OpenAI’s technology has demonstrated, the large language models (LLMs) supporting these chatbots can provide incorrect answers or delusions that may prove troublesome in a search context. In fact, with sufficient manipulation, these models can even become emotionally manipulative or cruel.
My AI is essentially just a fast mobile-friendly version of ChatGPT inside Snapchat, but it has been stripped of functionality that has already gotten ChatGPT banned in some schools. The chatbot is more restricted in what it can answer, and Snap’s employees have trained it to adhere to the company’s trust and safety guidelines.
A Boost to Paid Subscriber Numbers
My AI is expected to boost Snapchat’s paid subscriber numbers in the short term and could open up new ways for the company to make money in the future, although Spiegel is cagey about his plans. Snap is in a different place than other large players in the space like Google and Meta. Snapchat’s user base may seem large and youthful, but the company’s business is facing challenges.
According to Spiegel, Snap is among the initial customers of OpenAI’s new enterprise tier named Foundry, which allows businesses to use the latest GPT-3.5 model with dedicated computing intended for significant workloads. He further mentions that Snap will possibly integrate LLMs from other providers besides OpenAI in the future and employ the information collected from the chatbot to enhance its wider AI initiatives.
The Future of Chatbots
Snap’s implementation of My AI is the beginning of what Spiegel sees as a major investment area for the company, and more importantly, a future in which we’re all talking to AI like it’s a person. While ChatGPT has quickly become a productivity tool, My AI is designed to be more of a friend than a tool. The chatbot is expected to offer a new way for people to interact with AI, and its success could pave the way for more personalized and engaging chatbots in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the introduction of “My AI” chatbot on Snapchat is a significant development for both Snapchat and OpenAI. As more people are increasingly embracing AI technology in their daily lives, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel believes that AI chatbots will become a part of our everyday interactions. By partnering with OpenAI and utilizing its latest version of ChatGPT, Snapchat aims to offer its users a fun and interactive way to chat with an AI-powered persona.
The restricted and monitored approach taken by Snap ensures that the AI chatbot adheres to the company’s safety and trust guidelines, keeping the interactions safe and appropriate for all ages. The successful implementation of My AI on Snapchat could potentially open up new ways for the company to generate revenue and increase its paid subscriber numbers.
This partnership between Snapchat and OpenAI also highlights the growing importance of enterprise-grade AI models in the business world. As more companies invest in these models to improve their products and services, it will be interesting to see how AI technology will continue to shape our future interactions with machines.
