TikTok is toying with an in-app AI chatbot

Shocking news! TikTok — following the entire rest of the internet — is dipping its virtual toes into AI chatbots.

"We're in the early stages of exploring chatbot tools with a limited test of Tako with select users in the Philippines. Tako is an AI-powered tool to help with search and discovery on TikTok," TikTok comms tweeted on Thursday. "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, but we're excited to hear your feedback!"

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TechCrunch reported that the Tako bot will show up on the right-hand side of the TikTok app and, when in use, users can ask Tako questions about videos or to recommend new content or search questions.

"Being at the forefront of innovation is core to building the TikTok experience, and we’re always exploring new technologies that add value to our community," a TikTok spokesman told TechCrunch. "In select markets, we’re testing new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok, and we look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity and drives culture."

There's a lot we don't know about this potential new TikTok AI tool, but the fact that the platform is even toying with the idea says plenty about how social media will be integrating generative artificial intelligence into their apps going forward. Snapchat did it — and pissed everyone off. Facebook and Instagram are using it for ad-targeting. And entire new apps are using generative AI as the starting point — including the Instagram founders' app Artifact.