Snapchat has announced a host of updates to its iPhone app, including the expansion of its “My AI” chatbot to all users.
Snapchat’s My AI chatbot goes mainstream with new update
Powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology, “My AI” was previously only available to Snapchat Plus subscribers. It offers a range of customizable chatbot features, from personalized Bitmoji variations to Snapchat recommendations and the ability to share Snaps with My AI. As detailed by Snap:
1. Personalize My AI: Your AI comes with one of thousands of unique Bitmoji variations and can be easily customized to make it truly your own. Design a custom Bitmoji for your AI, give it a name, and start chatting.
2. Bring My AI into Conversations with Friends: It’s easy to bring My AI into any of your conversations with friends. Simply @ mention My AI and ask a question on behalf of the group. It will be clear when an AI has entered the chat and includes a sparkle next to its name.
3. Snapchat Recommendations: My AI surfaces place recommendations from the Snap Map and suggests relevant Lenses. For example, you can ask My AI to suggest weekend activities for your family or get the perfect Lens recommendation to wish a friend a happy birthday.
4. Share Snaps with My AI: Our community can send Snaps to My AI and receive a chat reply.
5. Watch It Snap You Back: With over 55,000 Snaps created on Snapchat every second on average, Snapping is a natural way that our community stays in touch. Soon Snapchat+ subscribers will be able to Snap My AI and get a unique generative Snap back that keeps the visual conversation going!
In addition to “My AI,” Snapchat has also revealed new features for its Stories platform. One of the standout updates is the addition of an “After Dark” option, allowing users to create a Story for late-night activities that unfolds into a debrief the next day. Another new feature is Communities, which enables users to share their perspectives with classmates.
Snap Map, Snapchat’s popular location-sharing feature, is also getting a boost with the addition of “Live Location” sharing, which allows indefinite, background sharing with friends. The update includes new 3D elements for the map interface, as well as improvements to suggested places to visit and additional Bitmoji customization options.
Overall, these updates demonstrate Snapchat’s ongoing efforts to improve its platform and engage its user base. The expansion of “My AI” to all users will likely prove popular, as chatbots continue to grow in popularity as a way to access information and services quickly and conveniently. The addition of new features to Stories and Snap Map also shows that Snapchat is paying attention to its user’s preferences and interests, and is committed to providing them with new and engaging ways to connect with their friends and communities.
Of course, Snapchat is not the only social media platform investing in AI and location-based features. Facebook, for example, has been working on its own AI-powered chatbots and has long offered location sharing through its Messenger app. However, Snapchat’s updates show that the company is continuing to innovate and differentiate itself in a crowded social media landscape.
