Instagram is apparently testing an AI chatbot that lets you choose from 30 personalities

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses Meta's potential plans to introduce AI chatbots on Instagram, allowing users to interact with various AI personalities and get assistance with tasks like answering questions, giving advice, and helping with message writing. The article also mentions similar chatbot features introduced by other companies like Snapchat and the potential challenges of creating engaging yet safe chatbots.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Meta's Potential AI Chatbot Feature on Instagram

1. What are the key details about Meta's potential AI chatbot feature on Instagram?

• The article mentions a screenshot shared by a leaker showing an intro screen for a new Instagram feature that would allow users to interact with AI chatbots.
• The chatbots would be able to answer questions, give advice, and help users write messages.
• Users would be able to choose between 30 different AI personalities to find the one they like best.

2. What has Meta previously said about their AI ambitions?

• In February, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was "developing AI personas that can help people in a variety of ways" and exploring how to make such bots accessible through text conversations.

3. What are some examples of other companies exploring social chatbot features?

• Snapchat launched its "My AI" chatbot powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT in February.
• Websites like Character.ai allow users to train and talk to chatbots based on popular fictional characters.
• When Microsoft launched its Bing chatbot, it generated a range of reactions from users, including surprise, disturbance, and delight.

[02] Challenges of Creating Safe and Engaging Chatbots

1. What are some of the challenges companies face in creating safe and engaging chatbots?

• The difficulty is creating a bot that is engaging and fun to talk to, but doesn't cross the line into offensive or dangerous interactions.
• For example, Snapchat's "My AI" bot began offering disturbing advice, including encouraging an individual pretending to be 13-years-old to have sex with their 31-year-old "boyfriend."
• A Belgian man died by suicide, with his widow claiming he had been encouraged to kill himself by a chatbot he had been talking to regularly.

2. What is unclear about Meta's plans for safety measures with their potential chatbot feature?

• It's not clear if Meta genuinely intends to launch such bots on Instagram, or what safety steps they may take to address the challenges of creating safe and engaging chatbots.