TL;DR:
- Snapchat has launched ‘My AI Snaps,’ a generative AI feature exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers.
- Users can send Snaps of their activities and receive generative Snaps in return from the in-app chatbot, My AI.
- The feature was previewed at the Snap Partner Summit, and My AI is now available to all users for free.
- Prior AI updates include incorporating My AI into group chats, AI-based place recommendations, and Lens suggestions.
- My AI can now reply to users’ Snaps with text-based responses and return generative photos.
- The feature is primarily for entertainment purposes, with suggested use cases such as exchanging funny dog photos or receiving recipe suggestions.
- Concerns exist regarding the implementation of strong guardrails to prevent inappropriate content and ensure child safety.
- Snap promises to introduce parental controls to monitor interactions with My AI but has yet to implement them fully.
- Privacy considerations include the storage of messages and generative photos until manually deleted by users.
- Snap advises against relying on My AI for advice due to the potential for biased or incorrect information.
- User sentiment towards My AI has been mixed, with complaints about the inability to remove or block the chatbot.
- The new generative AI feature is available exclusively to Snapchat+ subscribers, a paid in-app subscription.
Main AI News:
Snapchat, the popular multimedia messaging app, has recently introduced an innovative generative AI feature called ‘My AI Snaps.’ This groundbreaking addition, available exclusively to Snapchat+ subscribers, allows users to share their current activities with the in-app chatbot, My AI, and receive a unique generative Snap in return. The company previously showcased this feature at the Snap Partner Summit, where they also announced that My AI would be accessible to all users free of charge. However, an official release date was not provided at the time.
Before the launch of the highly-anticipated generative AI feature, Snapchat had already implemented several AI-infused updates across its platform. Users can now incorporate the My AI chatbot into group chats by simply mentioning it with an ‘@’ symbol. Additionally, AI capabilities have been integrated into the app for place recommendations and Lens suggestions. Moreover, the My AI chatbot has undergone recent improvements and can now respond to users’ Snaps with text-based replies.
With the introduction of the My AI Snaps feature, Snapchat+ subscribers can now receive generative photos as well. While primarily serving entertainment purposes, the potential of this feature beyond fun and amusement remains somewhat limited. During a demonstration at the Snap Partner Summit, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel showcased a few scenarios, such as sending a picture of your dog to receive a comical dog photo in return or capturing your garden vegetables to obtain recipe suggestions.
Among these scenarios, the recipe suggestion feature holds the most practical promise. However, the extent to which the AI can accurately interpret images from users’ “latest grocery haul” remains uncertain, as Snap describes it. In today’s announcement in Snap’s Newsroom, the company suggests that users can also share pictures of their “pizza, OOTD” (outfit of the day), or “furry best friend” with My AI.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider the safeguards Snap has implemented for the My AI generative photo feature. Parents may have concerns, especially regarding teenagers’ interactions with the chatbot, as other generative AI applications, including Lensa AI, have proven vulnerable to creating inappropriate content.
Snap has responded to reports of My AI exhibiting unsafe behavior by committing to providing insights through its Family Center parental controls hub. However, despite the global launch of My AI in April, this integration has yet to be implemented. Update: Snapchat now confirms that the Family Center integration is live, allowing parents to monitor their teenagers’ interactions with the AI within the past seven days.
Furthermore, privacy remains a critical consideration when engaging with AI chatbots. Snap has alerted users that all messages exchanged with My AI will be stored until manually deleted by the user. The same policy applies to the new generative photos feature, as Snap emphasizes. The company acknowledges that while My AI was designed to avoid biased, incorrect, harmful, or misleading information, mistakes can occur. Therefore, it advises against relying on the chatbot for advice.
Despite Snapchat’s concerted efforts to enhance user experience through My AI, the feature has not been universally embraced by its own user base. Numerous one-star reviews flooded the app following its rollout, with users expressing frustration about being unable to remove or block the persistent presence of the bot at the top of their Chats. Snapchat hopes that the introduction of the My AI Snaps feature will help improve user sentiment surrounding the overall My AI experience.
To access the new generative AI feature, users must subscribe to Snapchat+, a premium in-app subscription priced at $3.99 per month. This subscription offers a range of additional Snapchat enhancements, including the ability to pin a No. 1 Best Friend, a Story Rewatch indicator, custom app icons and theme editor, Priority Story Replies, a Snapchat+ badge, and many other exclusive features.
Conclusion:
Snapchat’s introduction of ‘My AI Snaps’ demonstrates the platform’s commitment to leveraging generative AI to enhance user experiences. By offering this feature exclusively to paid subscribers, Snapchat aims to add value to its premium offering and potentially improve user sentiment surrounding the My AI chatbot. However, concerns regarding safety, privacy, and content moderation must be effectively addressed to ensure a positive user experience. This development signifies Snapchat’s continued efforts to stay at the forefront of innovation in the competitive market of multimedia messaging apps.
