Artificial intelligence-based chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Bard are currently hot topics of discussion. TikTok is also joining the trend and reportedly developing an AI chatbot called Tako.
Tako is an AI-based chatbot that can engage with users in conversations about short videos and recommend content to them. Currently, TikTok is testing Tako on a limited scale in the Philippines.
In a screenshot shared by Daniel Buchuk from Watchful Technologies, Tako can be accessed through a button with a ghost icon located above the profile icon on the right side of the video. Watchful discovered this chatbot in several versions of TikTok for iOS devices.
When the button is tapped, the TikTok app will open a chat page where a bot will appear to answer various questions. To initiate a conversation with the user, Tako will display recommended questions at the bottom of the screen.
"If I'm watching a food video and ask about the recipe, I will receive related TikTok videos to get the recipe, or if I inquire about an art exhibition in Paris, the app will display videos along with a list of recommendations in response," said Buchuk, as quoted by Metis Media from The Verge on Friday, May 26, 2023.
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| TikTok's AI Chatbot (Source: YouTube AI Revolution) |
Upon first opening TikTok, a pop-up message appears stating that Tako is an experimental feature and the answers provided may not be accurate or correct. TikTok also emphasizes that this chatbot cannot be relied upon for financial, health, or legal advice.
In their official statement on Twitter, TikTok confirmed that they are still in the early stages of testing the Tako chatbot. The AI model powering Tako is unknown, and TikTok only states that they are using a third-party chat assistant.
"We are always exploring new technologies that add value to our community," said TikTok spokesperson Zachary Kizer in their official statement.
"In certain markets, we are testing new ways to empower search and discovery on TikTok, and we hope to learn from our community while continuing to create a safe, entertaining, and inspiring environment," he added.
The presence of the Tako chatbot has actually been detected for some time. Attorney Josh Gerben previously discovered that TikTok had registered a copyright for a chatbot software called Tako.
ByteDance's app is not the first social media platform to integrate AI chatbots. Snapchat previously released the My AI chatbot, powered by ChatGPT, to all its users for free.