TikTok says it is testing a generative AI chatbot in the Philippines to help its users find content and get recommendations for more, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The company has named the bot Tako.
TikTok said on Twitter: ‘Tako is powered by a third-party chat assistant and is designed to help make it easier to discover entertaining and inspiring content on TikTok. No current plans for this beyond these early tests.’
Watchful Technologies, a Tel Aviv-based competitive-intelligence company that detected that TikTok was trying the feature before its announcement, said Tako would answer questions and have conversations with users.
‘Tako could completely transform the way users navigate TikTok,’ Watchful is quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying.
The newspaper reports that the new feature is being tested, as TikTok faces the possibility of being banned in the US unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sells its stakes in the company.
The Wall Street Journal notes that generative AI chatbots have been found in many apps in recent months, including Duolingo, Expedia and Bing. Facebook parent, Meta Platforms, said it was establishing a group aimed at accelerating the adoption of the technology across the company.
Snap is rolling out its own AI experimental chatbot for Snapchat users.
The technology can be helpful for navigating apps filled with vast amounts of content. For app makers, it serves as a potential engagement booster.
[Image: Kon Zografos by Pixabay]