Meta wants to help famous Instagram users create their own versions of AI-powered bots.
Yes, I don’t understand why Meta believes that virtual versions of chatbots for famous people are a great way to utilize AI in its applications.
Back in September, Meta introduced its new chatbot that allows users to interact with AI bots that respond "in the style" of various celebrities.
Meta's AI-powered chatbots
This has always seemed like a strange use of AI to me. For instance, you’re not actually talking to Kendall Jenner, you’re talking to a chatbot meant to sound like her.
Does that make it a more engaging experience than interacting with a regular bot?
Meta seems to think so because, according to The New York Times, it is now looking to expand this initiative by allowing celebrities on Instagram to also create their own versions of AI-powered bots.
According to The New York Times:
"The program, which is in the early stages of testing and called 'Creator AI,' will enable influential people to interact with fans via direct messages on the social network and possibly through comments on Instagram in the future. Essentially, the program will feature a chatbot that mimics the 'voice' of the influencer on Instagram to respond to fans."
Meta has been talking about this for some time now: since the end of last year, the company has been experimenting with elements of AI creation.
Creating a Meta AI chatbot
Through this process, anyone will be able to create their own AI-powered chatbot that can talk about things that interest them.
But is it interesting? Or more importantly, is it "social" since it essentially is an experience within social networks?
According to The NYT, the goal of this new initiative is to allow authors with a large number of followers to better engage with fans, "while reducing the amount of work needed to personally respond to a large volume of messages and comments."
However, the bots' response is not a genuine response. Communicating with a bot, especially if it’s disclosed as such (as Meta says), is not something new or unusual, and it doesn’t replicate actual human interaction; it won't feel like a conversation with a real person.
Being the best friend of a virtual version of MrBeast is a kind of technical version of an imaginary friend. Right?
As part of the new Meta program, apparently these bots will be trained on Instagram posts, direct messages, comments, and audio from Reels and Stories to make their voices sound right.
But it won't be them, it will be a bot acting on their behalf. It will be a more "exciting" experience, at least from Meta's perspective.
I understand this concept from the standpoint of trying to help creators with a large following stay connected with their fans, but again, you’re stripping away the "social" element from the experience. And as we move towards having bots act on our behalf, these apps become less and less "social," ultimately turning them into "communication apps" instead?
The real value of social networks, especially for fans, lies in being able to follow celebrities and influencers and stay connected to their projects, as well as being able to communicate with them directly through comments and other interactions.
This direct connection is a key value proposition of this media tool, bringing us closer to our idols than ever before.
And now you’re actively diluting that.
Why?