Meta, the parent company of Instagram, recently announced that it will be rolling out AI chatbots on the platform. These chatbots are created by real creators and are designed to mimic their personalities. While this may sound intriguing, it raises the question of who actually asked for this feature.
The announcement was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself. He stated that the company will be conducting an early test of their AI studio in the U.S., and users can expect to see AI chatbots from their favorite creators and interest-based AIs in the coming weeks on Instagram. These chatbots will primarily be available in messaging and will be clearly labeled as AI.
The idea behind these AI chatbots is to help popular creators manage the overwhelming number of messages they receive. By outsourcing this task to AI, creators can save time and effort. However, this raises concerns about the authenticity of the interaction. Conversing with a chatbot is far from having a genuine conversation with a real person. It is more like speaking to a shadow of the creator or celebrity you admire.
TechCrunch reported that Meta will initially start with 50 creators and a limited number of Instagram users for the rollout. Over the next few months, they plan to expand the availability before doing a full launch by August. While some people may find the experience novel, it seems like another instance of AI being applied without a clear problem to solve.
There is something inherently lonely about chatting with an AI version of a real person. It lacks the depth and complexity of a human interaction. It’s hard to imagine that this feature will truly satisfy users who are seeking genuine connections with their favorite creators.
In conclusion, while Meta’s introduction of AI chatbots on Instagram may seem like an innovative step, it remains to be seen whether users will truly embrace this feature. The potential for outsourced conversations with creators raises questions about the authenticity and value of these interactions. Only time will tell if this is a feature that users actually want or if it will be another AI solution in search of a problem.