The Future of Customer Service? TikTok's AI Chatbot
Edward Standley
CEO of FutureStarr | Empowering Atlanta Hip-Hop Talent | High Net Worth Brand Strategist | AI Enthusiast | Driving Innovation in Entertainment & Talent Acquisition | Download FutureStarr App (Beta) on Apple & Google Play
TikTok has made its mark in AI chatbot technology with their feature Tako. The short form video app is currently testing this feature in the Philippines - similar to Snapchat's My AI chatbot which was first unveiled back in February.
The chatbot displays as a ghost-shaped icon that can respond to text-based questions and assist users in discovering content. A spokesperson stated that their company is always exploring new technology.
TikTok’s Tako AI Chatbot
TikTok is testing an AI chatbot named Tako that can converse about short videos and provide content recommendations to its users in the Philippines. A limited test is being run with select users; those interested can tap or tap/hold while watching videos to access this option and ask any relevant questions or get recommendations of similar videos from Tako.
Social media apps are increasingly turning to generative AI technology as part of their offerings, from search to video production and even drive-thru windows at fast food restaurants like White Castle and Wendy's. Though still evolving, companies are eager to incorporate generative AI into their apps now.
One of the most widely used generative AI tools currently available is ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI and supported by Microsoft Corp. Since its debut, similar features have emerged across platforms - Snapchat's My AI feature and Facebook's forthcoming Artifact being two examples.
As these bots evolve, they're becoming better at understanding conversations and suggesting videos relevant to them. Furthermore, they can detect and respond to emotional cues, leading them to more realistic interactions with people.
TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance Ltd, announced today it is set to introduce a more interactive version of its app dubbed Chatbot. This new feature will appear as an icon in the top-right corner of users' screens near where its options menu currently sits; when clicked upon by users it will start an in-text conversation between user and bot and may provide answers about videos they are watching or recommend other relevant ones.
TikTok spokesperson stated the company is always exploring technologies that add value to its community, with chatbot being part of this initiative. Furthermore, she highlighted TikTok as being the world's most popular short-form video platform and dedicated to providing an atmosphere which both entertains and fosters creativity and drives culture forward.
TikTok’s Tako FAQ
As tech companies expand into AI, Chinese social media giant TikTok has joined in by testing an AI chatbot called Tako to assist users in finding videos on its app. According to TikTok, Tako can answer user inquiries and recommend videos tailored specifically to each user.
TikTok users can access its chatbot by tapping on their profile icon in the top right corner of their TikTok app, selecting a small ghost-like icon which reportedly is powered by an artificial intelligence large language model; similar to what Snapchat's My AI feature uses or Google Flamingo which assists YouTube shorts writers.
TikTok's chatbot is currently being trialed with select users in the Philippines. While TikTok currently does not plan to roll-out this tool globally, they want to hear what people think of the tool firsthand.
Reuters reports that the launch of the chatbot is part of an effort to explore new technologies on the platform, with work currently ongoing on an AI avatar creator and new generative AI avatar creators.
TikTok's launch of a chatbot is a sure sign of its desire to keep pace with competitors Snap and Facebook; both use My AI bots already while Facebook recently added question-and-answer feature. Furthermore, TikTok faces pressure in certain states due to its links with China - this new move may further complicate matters for them.
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Tako will be keenly watched to see whether its launch can ease these concerns and boost growth in the US market. Unfortunately, resistance remains for its presence as Montana passed legislation prohibiting Tako from collecting data on children; this law may yet be challenged in court.
TikTok’s Tako Support
TikTok has entered the realm of artificial intelligence chatbots by testing an experimental tool named Tako. This new bot can interact with users while watching short videos to answer any queries they have and recommend content - currently in limited testing it will appear above your profile button on the right side of TikTok's interface for users to interact with while watching or to ask any related queries or request new videos from Tako's menu of suggestions.
Tako, which uses OpenAI-generated artificial intelligence software, appears to function similarly to Snap's forthcoming AI chatbot companion My AI. Both will be offered as stand-in features within their apps for answering general inquiries, offering personalized recommendations or aiding tasks such as finding videos or artist information.
TikTok recently held a demo for its new AI chatbot called Tako and presented it as an answer that can gather pertinent data from its extensive video library. Furthermore, TikTok plans on including recommendations based on your viewing habits as well as safeguards to keep minors away from its answering capabilities and warn if its responses might be incorrect or disturbing. Reuters notes that Tako will also stay away from accounts of minors for safety purposes and may provide inaccurate or offensive answers that could prove controversial or even illegal in certain instances.
Though it is too early to judge how effective TikTok's bot will be, it's evident that they are eager to experiment with new technology. They have recently launched several features involving AI such as avatar creation tools. Furthermore, there's now also a community standards page covering topics like fake news and climate change.
As companies increase their AI capabilities, data privacy becomes an ever-greater concern. Because AI can potentially perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases, companies must disclose how they plan to utilize this technology as well as provide tools that allow their users to control what information is collected - in Tako's case, TikTok allows users to delete conversations with him while keeping a record of his responses for safety reasons.
TikTok’s Tako Privacy Statement
TikTok has joined the AI chatbot trend with their new feature called Tako, currently being tested in multiple markets. The bot appears on the right-side video interface above likes, comments and bookmark icons and allows viewers to use natural language questions to interact with it about videos they are currently watching or to discover fresh content options.
Tako's answers come from an unnamed third-party provider, according to TikTok's Terms of Service. TikTok uses this information received to improve its AI that makes recommendations and personalize video viewing experiences for its users. Furthermore, TikTok claims not storing this data itself but instead sharing it with third-parties who supply answers directly.
Tako, like other AI chatbots, aims to encourage TikTok users to watch more videos and use its features. While its responses to inquiries can be helpful, its primary function is directing people towards video content on TikTok itself - potentially posing a threat to Google, which has been working towards adding conversational search to YouTube.
Technology related to generative AI is rapidly developing, yet its privacy implications continue to escalate rapidly. A recent scandal surrounding Facebook's Cambridge Analytica data collection exposed how these AI systems may gather personal information without users knowing or consent. As a result, this has spurred ongoing conversations in Congress and elsewhere about legislation designed to address these concerns.
Even amid all of its controversy, demand for AI tools is clearly on the rise. If privacy concerns can be addressed effectively, companies shouldn't hesitate to develop similar tools; yet governments need to determine whether or not they will be able to regulate this technology effectively before it's too late; much will depend on how much control these tools end up having over their users.