In a surprising move, TikTok, the popular short-video social platform, has announced the testing phase of its AI chatbot named Tako. The company took to Twitter today to break the news, revealing that they are exploring chatbot tools with a limited test of Tako with select users in the Philippines.
This announcement comes amidst a £12.7 million ($16 million) controversy, where TikTok was accused of misusing UK children’s data. The Biden administration has even urged its parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a potential ban in the United States. However, despite these challenges, TikTok is pressing ahead with innovative developments.
Tako, TikTok’s new AI-powered chatbot, is designed to to help make it easier to discover entertaining and inspiring content on TikTok. By harnessing the capabilities of a third-party chat assistant, Tako has the potential to significantly transform search and navigation within the TikTok app.
The above screenshots of the Tako chatbot feature were obtained by The Verge, providing a glimpse into its functionality. Located above the TikTok profile icon, Tako can be accessed by tapping on it, opening up a chat screen where users can interact with the bot.
Although the underlying AI model powering Tako remains undisclosed, the screenshots indicate that the chatbot can answer a wide range of queries. Additionally, Tako will provide suggested prompts to help initiate conversations with users.
According to tech research firm Watchful.ai, Tako’s capabilities include recommending personalised content and suggesting users to follow based on the user’s viewing history and questions asked. It’s important to note that while Tako can engage in conversation and answer questions, its responses may not always be accurate, and users should exercise caution when relying on its information.
TikTok joins the ranks of other social media platforms venturing into AI chatbot territory. Snapchat introduced its “My AI” bot, powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in February, and Google unveiled “Bard” early this year.
Trademark filings by TikTok for “chatbot software” under the name Tako further suggest that the company plans to expand its chatbot offering. Following Snapchat’s move to make My AI available to all users free of charge, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has also expressed his ambition to introduce AI agents to billions of people.
As TikTok continues to evolve and adapt in the face of regulatory challenges, the introduction of Tako reflects the company’s commitment to enhancing user experiences through innovative AI technologies.
