TikTok tests its own AI chatbot called "Tako"

TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform, is working on a proprietary AI chatbot called “Tako”. While the chatbot application is not yet available to the general public, it has been learned that it is currently being tested with a limited number of users.

Tako: the AI ​​chatbot for a more personalized content search

The Verge had the opportunity to see screenshots of TikTok's new AI chatbot in action. Tako's primary goal is to help users find the content they want on TikTok. However, she can also answer a variety of random questions.

Once released, users will be able to access Tako by tapping a new button placed above their profile icon. “If I watch food videos and ask for a recipe, I will get TikTok videos related to the recipe, or if I ask for good art exhibitions in Paris, videos will be shown in the response along with a list of suggestions,” Daniel Buchuk of Watchful Technologies explained, who got early access to Tako.

Using Tako will be similar to talking to someone in a chat room, similar to ChatGPT. However, it remains uncertain whether Tako is based on TikTok's proprietary AI model or a third-party one.

Future of Tako and AI chatbots in general

Right now, TikTok has no immediate plans to make Tako available to the public. The company told The Verge that the AI-powered tool has been released for select users in the Philippines and is not yet available in other regions. However, the company recently filed a trademark for “Tako,” suggesting that TikTok has serious plans for its AI chatbot.

TikTok already has a very sophisticated algorithm for suggesting videos to users. With the addition of AI, these suggestions could become even more accurate. Most importantly, as more and more people, especially teenagers, are spending a lot of time on TikTok, having a chatbot could make the platform a primary search engine for many internet users.

This move by TikTok comes shortly after Snapchat announced a ChatGPT-based AI in its app. As online platforms compete to offer the best AI, Apple still appears to be lagging behind, despite the company looking for engineers specializing in generative AI. The future of content search is clearly becoming more personalized and interactive, with AI chatbots like Tako leading the way.