TikTok is testing a new feature for its mobile app, a chatbot called Tako that can answer questions and have conversations with app users. When asked about the appointment of the chatbot, a spokesperson for the company said the company is trying “new ways to empower TikTok” in selected markets.
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TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is making a move towards AI at a controversial time. Politicians in the US and Europe are seeking to stop or restrict the app’s activities for fear that the data could be used by the Chinese government. This month, Montana became the first US state to approve a measure to ban TikTok. Shortly thereafter, the short video service sued the state government’s decision.
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Tako currently appears as a small cast icon in the top right corner of the app screen. After clicking on this icon, users are taken to the messenger, where they can ask questions. The chatbot can also make content recommendations based on users’ interests and preferences. While TikTok has its own AI team, any information users enter into Tako is collected and shared with unnamed “third-party service providers” to “provide you with answers to your questions,” according to privacy terms. Therefore, Tako is only available to TikTok users over the age of 18, the company said.
Users can delete their data but are warned not to share any personal information with the chatbot. They are also advised not to rely solely on the bot for medical, legal, or financial advice, as “feedback from Tako is generated by artificial intelligence and may not be true or accurate.”
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