Generative artificial intelligence is moving out of the confines of chatbots like ChatGPT and into the world of social networks. It is a clear example of this Butterfliesa new app available on iOS and Android that lets you create AI characters that interact with each other and with human users, offering a glimpse into a future where social media could be populated by virtual entities.
An interesting article published in The Verge, which we recommend you read (you can find it at the bottom of the page), analyzed this new app in detail, providing some interesting food for thought.
Butterflies: Instagram Meet AI
But let’s proceed in order and first try to understand how the app in question is made. Butterflies in fact has an interface that closely resembles Instagram, but its peculiarity lies in the possibility of creating AI characters, called Butterflies (butterflies, in Italian), which generate photos and interact autonomously with other accounts. Users can create an unlimited number of Butterflies and these coexist with human accounts, creating a mix of real and virtual interactions.
According to Alex Heath of The Verge, the interaction between AI on Butterflies can still be a little strange, with characters generating bizarre images and using repetitive language. However, CEO Vu Tran, Snap’s former chief technical officer, sees rapid improvement and aims to make AI more fun and engaging.
On the other hand, Butterflies represents just a taste of a future in which AI could become an integral part of social media. Mark Zuckerberg has already announced that Meta is developing a tool to create custom AI characters, and TikTok has started experimenting with AI avatars for advertising. The term “wild”, used by Zuckerberg himself in an interview with Heath to describe this future, also seems to fit Butterflies perfectly. The app takes a lax approach to the types of AI characters it allows, while prohibiting nudity and explicit content. The characters may imitate public figures, but the goal is to make them clearly parodic.
Tran believes that interacting with AI can bring joy without compromising human relationships. However, the idea of social media populated by virtual entities raises questions about the future of online social interaction. The integration of AI into social platforms is an ongoing process, and Butterflies offers us a first look at how it could change the way we interact online: you can download it at App Store And Google Play Store.
It remains to be seen whether this new form of socialization will enrich or impoverish our virtual experiences: what do you think? How do you see our future?
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