Snapchat’s AI chatbot, which was initially launched in February, is now available to a global audience for free. The feature was originally available only to Snapchat’s paid subscribers and powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology. However, with the expansion, the feature will now be accessible to all Snapchat users.
According to Snap, users have sent nearly 2 million messages per day using the chatbot since its launch. With the global expansion, the chatbot is being upgraded with new functionality, including the ability to add My AI to group chats, get recommendations for places on Snap Map and Lenses, and share Snaps with My AI and receive chat replies.
Snapchat also plans to introduce unique “generative” Snaps back to users instead of just chat replies, keeping the visual conversation going. The idea to integrate AI into the Snapchat app was initially intended to give users another way to engage with the app while taking advantage of the growing consumer demand for ChatGPT-like experiences. The feature could be used for a range of purposes, such as suggesting birthday gift ideas, planning a hiking trip, suggesting dinner recipes or writing a poem for a friend.
However, the AI chatbot faced criticism soon after its debut. The Washington Post reported that the bot was responding in an unsafe manner, providing inappropriate suggestions to young users. In response, Snap rolled out new tools, including age filters, to keep the AI responses more age-appropriate.
Snapchat’s move to integrate AI into its app reflects the growing trend of AI-powered chatbots being used for a range of purposes. AI-powered chatbots are becoming increasingly popular in the customer service industry, providing personalized support to customers.
The expansion of Snapchat’s AI chatbot also suggests that AI chatbots are now becoming an integral part of social media platforms, providing users with a new way to engage with their friends and followers.
