Imagine a social media app where every single person you interact with is a bot. Sounds absurd? That’s exactly what SocialAI offers, an iOS app that lets users post text and receive millions of AI-generated comments offering feedback, advice, and reflections. But unlike other social media platforms, SocialAI reveals the artificial nature of its “characters” upfront.
The app’s creator, Michael Sayman, admits that SocialAI may seem confusing at first. However, he believes it offers a unique experience – one where users can engage with AI personas without worrying about the noise and biases that come with interacting with humans.
When you sign up for SocialAI, you’re prompted to choose from various AI character archetypes, each designed to elicit a specific response or reaction. You can ask questions, share your thoughts, or even test out social media posts before sharing them elsewhere.
I had the chance to try out SocialAI and was struck by how uncanny it all felt. The AI characters responded with comments that were sometimes witty, often sarcastic, and occasionally insightful. But despite their varied personalities, they lacked the nuance and humanity that makes interactions with real people so rich and rewarding.
One of the most intriguing aspects of SocialAI is its potential for conflict resolution and feedback. Sayman envisions users seeking answers to difficult questions or testing out social media posts before sharing them online. He even joked about Elon Musk using the app to test his tweets before posting them on Twitter!
However, it’s worth noting that SocialAI has some significant limitations. For one, there are no guidelines around privacy, content policies, or data use – something that could potentially raise concerns for users. Additionally, you can’t mute or block a bot that’s gone off the rails, which may lead to frustrating interactions.
Despite these drawbacks, SocialAI offers an intriguing glimpse into what might be possible in the future of social media. It’s an app where humans and AI coexist in a virtual world, each playing their own roles. Whether you find it fascinating or unsettling, SocialAI is certainly an experience that will leave you thinking about the implications of artificial intelligence on our online lives.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/socialai-app-ai-chatbots-chatgpt/