TikTok Starts Trial Of "Take" Chatbot To Help Users Find Content

JAKARTA - The social media platform TikTok announced on Thursday May 23 that it is in the early stages of exploring a chatbot called "Tako" that can talk to users about short videos and help them find content. TikTok is also doing trials with a number of users in the Philippines.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft Corp, last year launched a chatbot called ChatGPT that offers the most natural interaction to date. This triggers a race to develop revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI)-based features, including by TikTok competitor Snap Inc, which uses ChatGPT-backed "My AI" technology.

TikTok says that Taka is designed to help users find content that "comforts and inspires" in the app.

On Thursday, an Israeli technology company called Watchful Technologies announced that it had found Taka in several versions of the TikTok app on Apple Inc mobile devices.

Screenshots and videos shared by Watchful to Reuters show the chatbot clearly appearing on the TikTok interface as a ghost-shaped icon, which users can tap while watching videos to have text-based conversations and get help in finding content.

In April, media in the United States reported that TikTok was conducting experiments with a generating AI tool that allows users to create avatars. ByteDance, China-based parent company TikTok, is developing a large AI model, as reported by Chinese media, but currently does not provide an AI chatbot feature in China's TikoTok version, Douyin.

Last month, it was revealed in a filing to the United States Patent and Trademark Office that TikTok had submitted a trademark application for "TikTok Taka" in the category including "computer software for man-made production in speech and text".

When asked about Taka, a TikTok spokesperson said that the social media platform is always exploring new technologies.

"In some particular markets, we are testing new ways to strengthen searches and discoveries on TikTok, and we hope to learn from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity, and affects culture," the spokesperson said.

The company did not explain the reason why the Philippines was chosen for this trial.

Peneliti dari Watchful Technologies, Daniel Buchuk, mengatakan timnya mulai menemukan referensi mengenai Taka dalam beberapa versi aplikasi TikTok pada awal bulan ini, termasuk pada versi uji coba di perangkat iOS di Amerika Serikat.

Watchful uses computer vision technology as well as data analysis to identify and mimic changes in apps. They monitor devices in various countries, but cannot determine which market TikTok is testing.

According to Buchuk, unlike ChatGPT which is a multi-purpose chatbot, Taka feels more like an assistant for navigation by focusing on encouraging users to watch more videos.

"So if you ask, 'When is King Charles' inauguration?' Taka will tell you the answer, but you will also see relevant TikTok videos," he said.

Another demonstration by Watchful shows that when a user asks Taka, for example, "How to teach children to respect others," the chatbot will provide a summary of tips from TikTok users while recommending related videos.

TikTok has included an explanation that Taka is an experimental chatbot and its response may be inaccurate. They said that conversations with Taka would be reviewed for security purposes and warned users not to share personal information with the chatbot.