Meta is gearing up to announce a generative artificial intelligence chatbot (internally called ‘Gen AI Personas’) that aims to attract younger users to the world of AI chatbots. The new chatbot is expected to launch during Meta’s Connect event on September 27, and will introduce some familiar but… dated ‘personas’.
The edge notes that the chatbots will have different personas that will promote more human, engaging conversations to appeal to younger users. One of the ‘sassy’ robot personas is inspired by Bender from Futurama and Alvin the Alien.
Meta plans to add “dozens” of famous faces to its chatbot list and even plans to create a tool that will allow celebrities to create their own chatbots for their fans. This is good news because I was finally able to talk to Beyonce.
How are you, fellow children?
Meta is clearly putting a lot of time and effort into perfecting its chatbot game in the burgeoning world of AI. We all remember Snapchat AI, which rose to fame for about a week and then quickly faded into obscurity.
Interestingly enough, the Wall Street Journal reached out to former Snap and Instagram executive Meghana Dhar, who noted that chatbots “Gen Z isn’t yelling at me, but Gen Z is definitely much more comfortable” with new technology. She also adds that Meta’s goal with the chatbots is likely to keep them engaged longer so that it “increases the likelihood of serving ads.”
That would explain the rather random selection of “young people” personas Meta goes for. While Bender from Futurama is quite recognizable, he’s not exactly a Gen Z icon. As someone from the Meta demographic seems to be addressing, it’s an extremely strange celebrity to slap on your product, as there are a plethora of other (more relevant) personalities to choose from.
The advantage Meta has in choosing Gen Z as its target demographic is that Gen Z is very public about who they think are super right now. Meta literally could have chosen anyone else, so hopefully the other personalities it has in store are something more… contemporary.