Snapchat Rolls Out Its Own Chatbot Service To Send You Snaps Or Write A Haiku

Chatting on Snapchat just got a whole lot more interesting as the company has rolled out its new chatbot service to everyone.

‘My AI’, the name of the service, was first available only to users with a Snapchat+ membership, but it is now reaching all users on the platform. Powered byOpenAI’s ChatGPT, My AI can hold conversations on just about anything, performing everything from a haiku about your best friend to being someone to talk to. My AI also helps people discover more about the app by recommending features and adding effects to photos and videos.

The bot will be added to conversations if a user types out “@MyAI”, and a Bitmoji can even be created for it so that you can bring the AI to life, in a way. And, of course, as “snapping” is the main way to communicate on the platform, if someone were to send a picture, the AI will send one right back and keep the “visual conversation going,” as Snapchat points out.

Say hi to My AI, our new chatbot located at the top of your chat. Write a song for your bestie who loves cheese, find the best IYKYK restaurant, or Snap it a photo of your garden to find the perfect recipe. Now free for all Snapchatters. #SnapPartnerSummit pic.twitter.com/U2KdozuWQz

— Snapchat (@Snapchat) April 19, 2023

According to CNN, the machine has been trained on online data. However, it poses a risk for not only copyright infringement but also safety, as Snap noticed some users were receiving malicious answers. In one example, a teenager was given pointers on how to mask the smell of alcohol and drugs, and another youth managed to get the bot to write a whole essay for their school.

Despite this, Snap has said that 99.5% of the responses adhere to its guidelines, and more moderation features and in-app parental tools have been included to keep youths safe.

[via CNN and Reuters, cover photo 83989201 © Frui | Dreamstime.com]