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The entire tech world is moving toward AI (Artificial Intelligence), as several companies are looking to add AI chatbots to their services. Snapchat is no different, as the popular photo-sharing app has implemented OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its service. Dubbed My AI, this is an AI chatbot that’s supposed to look and behave like a human user.
So, what is this chatbot? How does it differ from ChatGPT proper? Does it augment the Snapchat experience at all? Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about Snapchat’s My AI.
How do I access My AI?
You have access to My AI whether you’re a free user or subscribed to Snapchat+. To access the chatbot, just go to your chats. My AI will be pinned to the top of your conversations. Just tap on the conversation and you’ll be able to start typing.
What can you do with My AI?
So, since My AI is powered by ChatGPT, you know that it can do an absolute ton of stuff. Here’s a rundown of the core things that it can do.
Basic conversation
This might be what My AI is mostly marketed for. So, My AI will wear the mask of a human user. When you’re using it, you’ll see an avatar and everything. Also, all of its replies will show up in chat bubbles. So, it’s supposed to feel like you’re talking to a human being.
As such, you’re able to start and carry on a conversation about most subjects. You can talk about anything from your day to the loss of a loved one. You can talk about your crush or a party that you’re setting up. The AI will try its darndest to give you helpful and natural responses.
Advice
So, you’re not in the mood for conversation, but you want some advice on something. You can ask for advice on most subjects. Once you pose the question, it will give you a clear and concise response much like ChatGPT. Just type “I want advice on” and say what it is. Within a few seconds, you’ll see a chat bubble pop up with the advice you need.
Encyclopedia knowledge
You can use My AI as your personal encyclopedia. All you have to do is type in a question like “How far is the earth from the sun?” or “What is a rhino’s horn made of?”. It will give you the answer right then and there.
[Updated Dec. 15th 2023] My AI’s knowledge isn’t 100% up-to-date. While ChatGPT’s knowledge stops at April 2023, My AI’s knowledge base seems to end at a much earlier date. It knows about the Galaxy S22 but not the Galaxy S23. So, its knowledge ends sometime in 2022, it seems. So, you won’t be able to get information about events that are extremely recent.
Written content
Just like with ChatGPT, you’re able to create written content. Obviously, it’s recommended that you attempt to create your own content. However, you have the ability to generate bits of written content like poems, stories, scripts, articles, eulogies, speeches, etc. Unlike ChatGPT, you can not generate full novels.
Responses can comfortably be 2000 words long, but striving for anything longer, you run the risk of getting an error message. So, you’re good with short stories and shorter content altogether.
If you have a specific word count in mind, you’ll just have to say “Write me an “X” word [whatever content you want written] about…” For example: Write me a 1000-word article about the problems with the LG G7.
Code for apps
This is one of the main things that grabbed people’s attention with ChatGPT. You’re able to generate sections of Python script that you’re able to insert into your code. Just know that it’s not able to generate an entire app. It can generate small sections of code.
You’ll want to be careful about the formatting. You can copy the text from the message, but you might have to adjust the formatting when you paste it into your code.
Recipes
This is a fun one. You’re able to generate recipes for different dishes using My AI. It will tell you all of the ingredients first and then tell you the process of cooking it. What’s neat is that you talk back and forth with the bot to make the right dish for you.
Say, you get a recipe for tacos. You can reply with something like “Let’s make them spicy” and you’ll get a revised recipe with an added spicy ingredient. Speak to it as though you’re speaking to a human being.
Respond with things like your likes, dislikes, what kind of things you want to add or take away, etc.
Does it have access to my location?
Yes and no. It depends on the situation. If you’ve never shared your location with Snapchat in the past, then My AI can’t. However, if you have shared your location with the app, then My AI can access your location.
Even if your location is currently disabled, if you gave the app your location at some point in the past, then My AI will have access to it. Your location data is most likely saved on Snapchat’s servers. So, My AI is probably tapping into that stored information.
However, if you shut your location off, and move to a different location, My AI will still be using the older information. So, if you move from California to Florida, and ask it for local burger joints, don’t be surprised if you get results for In and Out Burger.
Can I delete my chats/data?
Your chats are automatically stored on Snapchat’s servers, and you have a limited time to delete them. You have 24 hours to delete your chats after you send them. After that, they’ll be stored on the servers, and you won’t have access to them. Those chats will be permanently stored on the servers.
However, there’s a way to delete those stored chats. It will require you to completely wipe all of your data from the servers.
How to clear your data
First, tap on your profile picture and tap on the gear icon on the top right of your screen. Scroll all the way down to the bottom and tap on the Clear My AI Data. When you tap on that button, you’ll see a popup explaining what’s actually being deleted. This will clear all of the chats you’ve exchanged with My AI. It includes current and past conversations.
One thing that popup notes is that it won’t delete visible or saved data. For instance, if you’ve mentioned My AI in other chats, those mentions won’t be deleted. If you want to delete those, you’ll need to go to those chats and delete them individually.
All of your My AI data will remain on the servers until you delete it. That’s something to keep in mind.
What are the limitations?
So, since My AI is riding on the back of the Boeing 747 that is ChatGPT, it can do a lot. However, everything has its limits. There are things that you’re not able to do with My AI.
Earlier in the article, I mentioned that you can generate stories and get advice on most subjects. Well, you’re not able to get responses that deal with the act of sex. So, you won’t be able to generate stories or get advice about any explicit activities. However, I emulated a conversation and used this line: So, the subject of… you know what… came up.
My AI didn’t outright avoid responding. It said, “I understand, and it’s a natural and important topic of discussion in any romantic relationship…” So, it understood what “You know what” meant, and it also offered constructive advice.
You also can’t generate content dealing with violence or get advice on prescription medication.
How does it compare to ChatGPT?
This is a pretty important question. While My AI uses ChatGPT, it’s not an exact copy. There are some minor differences between both chatbots.
For starters, there’s a major difference in the speed at which you get your responses. With ChatGPT, you’ll see the response gradually type itself out. However, with My AI, you’ll see the response pop up as a chat bubble, and it’s exponentially faster. Most responses are almost instantaneous.
While that’s a win for My AI, ChatGPT was able to stick to the topic at hand better than My AI. I started a conversation about the loss of a pet. ChatGPT was able to remember details about the pet, the name of the tribute I said I was going to write for the pet when it died, and other details when the conversation strayed far from the core subject.
My AI was able to stick with the conversation pretty well. I emulated the same conversation and My AI wasn’t able to hold onto details as well. I asked it questions about the pet down the road, and it forgot what we were talking about altogether.
How can I customize My AI?
This will differ depending on whether you’re a free user or a Snapchat+ user. If you’re a free user, you’re, obviously, more limited in what you can do. The only thing that you can do is change the name of your AI character. Remember, My AI is supposed to resemble a human being as much as possible, so you can give them a unique name like you would a human user.
Free users can also customize the avatar using the full suite of tools and settings that you can use when customizing your own avatar. This only adds to the personality present for your AI.
Once you get Snapchat+, your options will further expand. Along with giving your AI a name, you’re able to give it a unique bio. This lets you give it a unique backstory. What’s neat about this feature is that the bio you give it will influence how it responds to you. This will give it an actual personality. If you don’t know what kind of bio to give it, you’re able to have one randomly created.
Can I get rid of My AI?
No, you can not. If you’re a non-paying user, then My AI will remain pinned to the top of your conversations. However, if you’re subscribed to Snapchat+, then you’ll be able to unpin the chatbot from your feed.
Why use My AI?
My AI is perfect for short-term conversations. If you need a result within a few messages, then you won’t see any issues. You’ll just need to be careful about where you’re steering the conversation. It won’t be hard to knock My AI off of the subject and onto a different one. Despite that, it’s an excellent alternative to ChatGPT if you want to use your phone.