TikTok tests AI chatbot 'Tako' in the Philippines (updated)

Pond Technologies Holdings

25/05/2023 15:23

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      TikTok in early stages of exploring chatbot "Tako"
    

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      Tako designed to help find 'entertaining and inspiring
content'
    

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      'We're testing new ways to power search and discovery on
TikTok'
    

  
 (Changes sources in headline and first paragraph)
    By Josh Ye
       HONG KONG, May 25 (Reuters) - 
    Social media platform TikTok said on Thursday it is in the
early stages of exploring a chatbot called "Tako" that can
converse with users about short videos and help them discover
content, and is conducting tests with select users in the
Philippines.
  
    OpenAI, backed by Microsoft Corp  MSFT.O , last year
launched chatbot ChatGPT, offering arguably the most natural
interaction to date. That triggered a race to develop features
based on game-changing generative artificial intelligence (AI),
including TikTok rival Snap Inc  SNAP.N  whose "My AI" is
powered by ChatGPT technology.
        TikTok said Tako is designed to help users discover
"entertaining and inspiring content" on the app. 
  
    Earlier on Thursday, an Israeli-based app intelligence firm
Watchful Technologies said it had found Tako on some versions of
the TikTok app on Apple Inc  AAPL.O  mobile devices. 
    Screenshots and video Watchful shared with Reuters showed
the chatbot featuring prominently on TikTok's interface as a
ghost-shaped icon, which users can tap while watching videos to
have text-based conversations and get help finding content.
    In April, U.S. media outlets reported that TikTok was
experimenting with a generative AI tool to allow users to create
avatars. China-based parent ByteDance is working on a large AI
model, Chinese media reported, but it does not currently offer
AI chatbot features on its Chinese equivalent of TikTok, Douyin.
    Disclosure filed with the U.S. patent and trademark office
last month showed TikTok had submitted a trademark application
for "TikTok Tako" in categories including "computer software for
the artificial production of human speech and text".
    Asked about Tako, a TikTok spokesperson said the social
media platform was always exploring new technology.
    "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," the
spokesperson said.
    The company did not say why the Philippines was selected.
        
  
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    Watchful researcher Daniel Buchuk said his team started to
find references to Tako on some versions of the TikTok app
earlier this month, including on a test version on an iOS device
in the United States.
    Watchful uses computer vision as well as data analysis to
identify and emulate app changes. It monitors devices in
different countries but was unable to establish in which markets
TikTok was conducting its tests.
    Unlike ChatGPT, which is positioned as an all-purpose
chatbot, Tako feels more like a navigation assistant with a
focus on encouraging users to watch more videos, Buchuk said.
    "So if you're asking 'When was King Charles' coronation?'
Tako will tell you the answer, but then you'll also see relevant
TikTok videos," he said.
    Another demonstration by Watchful showed that when a user
asks Tako a question, such as "How can we teach respect to
children", the chatbot replies by summarising tips from TikTok
users while also recommending related videos.
    TikTok has set a disclaimer saying Tako is an experimental
chatbot and that responses could be inaccurate. It said it will
review conversations with Tako for safety purposes and warned
users not to share private information with it.

 (Reporting by Josh Ye in Hong Kong and Yana Gaur in Bengaluru;
Editing by Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing and Nick Macfie)
 ((brenda.goh@thomsonreuters.com; +86 (0) 21 2083 0088; Reuters
Messaging: brenda.goh.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))