A new best friend?

Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Comment Editor, looks at Snapchat's new AI feature and gives her opinion

AS of the 19th April, Snapchat’s update pinned a new friend to our chats — known as ‘My AI’ — and the reactions have users concerned to say the least. From AI technology and the rapid growth of ChatGPT, recent tech developments, while undeniably impressive, are beginning to border on alarming. While the feature has been available for premium users since February, it has only now become a universal feature of the app. For those of you who have yet to try the Snapchat bot, it is essentially a virtual friend that you can communicate with whenever about whichever subject you choose. While personally, I have spent the past few weeks frantically trying to delete it (then shortly having to ignore its existence) it seems only right to use the AI to find out more.

I HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKS FRANTICALLY TRYING TO DELETE IT

Taking a moment to test the bot, I was able to conduct an entire interview within minutes, with most of this time being me typing the questions, as responses were instant. To open with, AI outlined its role in three stag - es: to "chat with you, offer recommendations, and help you have fun on the app." Though off to a confident start, AI was then unable to answer how many users have used this feature, even unable to give an estimate when asked once more. In the hopes of opening a more self-aware dialogue, I began to ask AI about how it sees its role developing in future. As expected, a set of highly diplomatic responses followed, as its initial optimism was also met with an urge to ensure it is used "ethically and responsibly." Similarly, it acknowledged it will not be able to "replace hu mans completely," how ever already believes that "AI has the ability to outperform humans in certain tasks". When asked if it thinks AI technology can be dangerous, the response again analysed both sides of the argument, placing emphasis on its acceptability if it "benefits people and society as a whole." To confirm the frustration felt by many, I concluded by asking if users can delete this feature if they prefer, in response to which information about Snapchat+ was generated, and upon further questioning, it was confirmed that only paying users are currently able to remove the feature.

Reflecting on AI’s answers, there are many questions to grapple with. Immediately, its unavoidable existence leads us to consider what its wider purpose truly is. Is this perhaps a marketing ploy to get individuals to subscribe to Snapchat premium, or is this for many a reason to consider deleting Snapchat altogether? As noted in a recent Evening Standard article, since the update, ‘‘Google searches for 'delete snapchat' also spiked by 488 per cent on the heels of the chatbot’s launch".

Turning to more recent AI news, Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer of AI work, has not only quit Google after decades of service, but has done so and is speaking out about the dangers of his life's work. He goes on to share with the BBC