Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and X (previously Twitter) all have one thing in common: we connect with friends, followers, or subscribers. Yet, for most of us, we will never reach the stage of celebrity where every post is directly responded to by dozens of messages. What if I tell you that a brand-new application can solve that? Social.AI puts you in the center of attention by giving you AI-powered bot followers that will engage with any of your posts.
As dystopian as it may sound, it’s hardly surprising that artificial intelligence has entered the field of social media, given the technology’s expansion. With new platforms like ChatGPT having more than 600 million visits per month (Duarte, 2024). AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives.
Social.AI first seems like X, a well-known site where people share ideas, opinions, and posts. The difference is that you are interacting with a community of AI bots who are eager to respond to anything you say, rather than with actual people. In essence, SocialAI provides a social environment in which the user is the center of attention. No quiet on the radio, no ghosting. The designed bots are constantly available, prepared to offer advice and support, engage in discussion, or even engage in trolling.
Figure 1 Figure 2
Michael Sayman, the platform’s founder, calls it “liberating.” He clarifies that his goal was to provide a secure environment where people could communicate in private with one another and get input from a variety of AI characters. Users may choose from 32 distinct bot “types” on the app, ranging from adoring admirers to sardonic critics, depending on the kind of response they’re looking for (Lomas, 2024).
After some tries, some of us will feel more at ease knowing that there is still work to be done on this app before it can be said to compete against mainstream social media platforms. As you can see from the figures (Figures 1 and 2), each bot has a distinct personality, and you can easily perceive that the answer is from an AI chatbot, as they feel very oriented towards certain behaviors.
Ultimately, Social.AI is not perfect yet, but it serves as a reminder of how AI can reshape social spaces. Even if this application is not on point, it reminds us that progress is not stopping and asks us a deeper question: As AI continues to evolve, do we want to be the stars of lifeless computers?
References:
Duarte, F. (2024, July 27). Number of ChatGPT Users (Aug 2024). Exploding Topics. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/chatgpt-users Lomas, N. (2024, September 17). SocialAI offers a Twitter-like diary where AI bots respond to your posts.
TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/17/socialai-offers-a-twitter-like-diary-where-ai-bots-respond-to-your-posts/
Hello Samuel,
this article is very interesting. I did not know this kind of app/website exists. I think this might address the problem of people’s desire for validation and engagement, especially from strangers on the internet. While it’s fascinating to see how far technology has come, it is a bit sad as it sacrifices authentic human connections for constant digital attention. I believe it can reshape our interactions and these artificial responses can truly fulfill our social needs, but it might lead to making some people more disconnected in the long run.
This is a very interesting post. I was well aware of AI bots on existing social media websites such as the ones listed in the introduction of this very post, however, I was not aware of a website that works with the bots as its user base. I find it quite sad actually and I do not agree this is liberating. I believe the users of this website would join it to feel social validation, a sense of belonging or engagement. I do not think these needs should be met by artificial people, thus, the concept of this website is a little unsettling. I believe this could lead to getting lost in a world where more and more of the needs usually met by human interaction are met by AI agents. This website raises questions about whether this AI will lead to the creation of a supportive online environment or a more artificial one. It is interesting to see how these bots would then influence decision-making and the views shaping real-world interactions.