Snapchat unveils new features and AI Chatbot for subscribers

Snapchat has introduced exciting updates to its platform, making it easier to stay connected with friends and family. The latest version of Snapchat offers new features and tools that aim to enhance the user experience.

One of the most anticipated updates is the Calling Lenses, which allows users to appear together in one frame, making virtual meetings more personal. In the coming weeks, users will also be able to play games and solve puzzles while virtually face-to-face. The app has also added two new ways to show what you're up to: the 'After Dark' Story and Communities feature. The 'After Dark' Story is a new way to share your nightlife adventures with your friends, while Communities lets you connect with people who share your interests.

Users can now view Flashbacks made from Snapchat Memories over conversations with friends, making it easy to reminisce about past experiences together. In addition, Snapchat has updated its Snap Map with a new location sharing option. Users can now view new 3D landmarks and tags on places that were buzzing last night. The Bitmoji feature has also been updated, with more fashion styles and an updated avatar style that makes them more expressive and personal.

One of the latest features is My AI, an AI-powered chatbot that has been rolled out globally to Snapchat+ subscribers. My AI can be easily customized by choosing one of thousands of unique Bitmoji variations and giving it a name. Users can share snaps with My AI to get a chat reply, and it can be added to conversations with friends by simply @ mentioning it.

My AI can suggest place recommendations from the Snap Map and relevant Lenses, and users can Snap My AI to get a unique generative Snap back, keeping the visual conversation going. To ensure safety, My AI conforms to the community guidelines and age signals using Snapchatters' birthdates. Additional moderation technology assesses potentially harmful content and temporarily restricts access to My AI. The new feature it's also being incorporated into in-app parental tools, Family Center, which allows caregivers to see if their teens are chatting with My AI and how often.

Snapchat is constantly improving the AI experience by using early learnings to make it more safe, fun, and useful. The new updates and features make Snapchat a more engaging and interactive platform that brings people closer together.

Our take: The inclusion of AI-powered chatbots such as My AI, is a clear indication of how AI technology has changed the demands of social media users. As new platforms emerge with innovative features and fresh ideas, established platforms like Snapchat need to keep reinventing themselves to remain relevant and attract new users, but where should the line be drawn in terms of AI integration in almost everything?