Chatbots seem to be everywhere. Even if you’ve never sampled OpenAI’s pioneering ChatGPT, you may have run into one of its dupes on Snapchat, Microsoft’s Bing, Discord, or Duolingo.
Now, TikTok is jumping on the chatbot bandwagon with its own AI assistant called “Tako.”
Like its predecessor, Tako can generate human-like responses to questions. Since this is he TikTok, you can also recommend videos and content her creators based on your queries and previously watched clips.
Reuters reported that the video app is testing new features with users in the Philippines.
Tako could be a powerful tool for TikTok. The app has already become the de facto search engine for younger users, who use it to look up information on everything from beauty products to restaurants. Unlike Google, which is also in the process of adding AI-powered responses to its search engine, TikTok delivers results in the form of human-created clips rather than his nondescript website.
By embedding the chatbot into its massive video database, the company will be able to learn more about its users’ habits. This should help further tweak its addictive algorithm to user preferences. However, as Snapchat has learned with its recent controversial rollout of its “My AI” chatbot, too aggressive an implementation can also risk unnerving its user base.
TikTok’s chatbot resembles cartoon ghost from ‘Pac-Man’ video game
/ cautiousDuring the trial phase, Tako will appear on the right side of your TikTok video screen. A ghost-like icon is prominently placed above other buttons that allow you to manipulate clips.
For the time being, it seems that you can only type messages into the bot. By comparison, ChatGPT and Bing let you have conversations using your voice, just like you would with a digital assistant like Alexa or Siri.
TikTok filed a US trademark for the technology in April, describing the technology as “computer software that facilitates dialogue and communication between humans and AI.” Perhaps alluding to its future capabilities, the application also states that it “could be used to artificially generate human speech and text.”
Tako on TikTok is accessible from videos watched in the app
/ cautiousOther companies, including Spotify, are already using generative AI to mimic the human voice. At the same time, record companies are battling the rise of deepfake music that sounds like it was sung by artists like The Weeknd and Drake.
TikTok is a treasure trove of musical activity, with users soundtracking clips with both new and classic songs. It also grapples with the chaos wrought by the viral success of generative AI. This year, TikTok cracked down on some forms of content generated or altered using AI while developing visual features that incorporated the technology.
TikTok confirmed testing of its chatbot on Thursday. “We are in the early stages of exploring a chatbot tool and have been doing limited testing of Tako with some users in the Philippines. Tako leverages AI to help him search and discover on TikTok. It’s a great tool,” the company tweeted.
The big question is whether Tako is basically ChatGPT in new clothes. Based on TikTok’s statements, that may be true.
“Tako utilizes a third-party chat assistant designed to make it easy for you to find fun and exciting content on TikTok,” the company added on Twitter.
In particular, ChatGPT allows developers to create tools using the GPT 3.5 large language model in exchange for a fee. The white-label service has helped the company become the brains behind a slew of copycat chatbots, and TikTok’s Tako is perhaps the latest clone to join the ranks.
