Snapchat’s My AI chatbot, which was previously exclusive to paying users, is now accessible to non-paying users. While the feature has generated humorous memes, it has also raised genuine concerns.
According to a Time report, the feature was initially launched in February for Snapchat+ subscribers and has since attracted nearly a million more users. On Sunday, the company extended the availability of My AI to all regular Snapchat users, prompting many to share their bizarre conversations with the chatbot.
Upon initiating a chat with My AI, users are greeted with a prompt that reads, “I’m your new AI chatbot. You can ask me about anything, and I’ll do my best to help. I’m always here for a laugh, and you can give me a name if you’d like. Is there anything I can do for you today?”
After testing out Snapchat’s My AI chatbot, some users took to TikTok to express their opinions, ranging from humorous to concerning.
Some users saw the bot as a virtual therapist, using it as an outlet to share their problems or as an imaginary ex they could talk to.
However, others were critical of the feature, accusing My AI of lying, gaslighting, and generally being creepy.
In a TikTok video that has amassed over 12 million views, Evan Packard referred to My AI as “horrifying” while sharing his conversation with the bot about his location.
According to the video, My AI asked about Packard’s preferred hiking spots in his city but later denied knowing his location when directly asked. When asked again after changing the subject, the bot then appeared to reveal Packard’s location.
Another TikTok creator claimed that the ChatGPT-powered My AI chatbot denied having access to her personal information yet had already revealed her birth month in a previous message.
In response to the online reactions to My AI, we decided to test the chatbot by engaging in a basic conversation. During a discussion about chicken tenders, the bot offered suggestions for mixing dipping sauces and provided advice on portion sizes.
However, similar issues to those highlighted by TikTok users emerged when the location topic emerged. My AI initially responded, “I’m not sure where you live, but I’m always happy to chat with you no matter where you are!” Later, the bot accurately identified the nearest pharmacy in the area and correctly answered a location-related question.
According to a statement from a Snap representative, My AI chatbot was designed to comply with Snapchat’s community guidelines, which prohibit inappropriate or harmful content.
The statement explained that My AI can access a user’s age and location if that information has been granted to it. While acknowledging that the bot is imperfect, the company’s recent analysis revealed that 99.5% of My AI’s responses adhere to their community guidelines. Really?
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was reportedly surprised by the growth in the company’s $3.99-a-month subscription service, as reported by Time. “We never expected to grow to 3 million paid subscribers,” Spiegel said.
“We see that releasing new features gets more people excited about signing up or trying Snapchat+. We definitely saw some nice momentum with My AI.”
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