TikTok Is Testing Its Own In-App AI Chatbot Named ‘Tako’ – CNET [CNET]

May 25, 2023 Zachary McAuliffe technology

Some people in the Philippines can try the experimental feature now.

Zachary McAuliffe Staff writer

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TikTok is the latest tech company to begin work on an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. The company announced Thursday on Twitter that it’s begun a limited test of it’s AI-powered tool, called Tako, with select users in the Philippines.

“Tako is an AI-powered tool to help with search and discovery on TikTok,” the company tweeted. “No current plans for this beyond these early tests, but we’re excited to hear your feedback!”

2/ 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!

— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) May 25, 2023

“We’re always exploring new technologies that add value to our community,” a TikTok spokesperson told CNET in an email. “We look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity, and drives culture.”

According to the tech research firm Watchful.ai, Tako can recommend content to watch and users to follow based off what you’ve watched and questions you’ve asked it. A screenshot of Tako posted by the firm says the chatbot can answer questions and have a conversation with you, but Tako’s responses might not be true and shouldn’t be relied upon.

Other tech companies, like Google and Snapchat, have rolled out AI chatbots to people. Microsoft has also integrated AI into its Bing search engine.

TikTok is seemingly late to the game by those standards, but some major tech companies, like Apple, haven’t made any announcements concerning AI features or tools yet.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.