Is the Snapchat AI Safe?

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Shyla Brown

A drawing depicting the Snapchat logo as well as a My AI Bitmoji.

The latest Snapchat feature has many intrigued and concerned. Snapchat recently came out with “My AI”. This new feature was first available to Snapchat premium users and later all Snapchat users. The new addition is meant to act as a personal assistant or friend. Snap users may chat with it and ask it questions. It’s even capable of writing short essays about various topics.

Although this new addition has sparked a lot of attention, not all of it is positive. Users have noticed weird behavior from the AI. People have asked questions such as, “Where am I?” and the chatbox has responded with their exact location but then later claims it’s not able to access the user’s specific location. However this may be prevented if users turn off their location so that Snapchat doesn’t have access to it. Another odd reaction from the AI Chat Box is that it has introduced itself with a human name and then later claims it had never stated that. Parents should be warned that their children might be talking to the new Chatbox and the conversations may be unsafe. It’s also important to note that Snapchat users can not delete the AI.

The most interesting part of Snapchat’s new feature is how human-like and realistic it is. For users, it’s almost as if you are chatting with another human. The benefits and issues with the feature remain questionable. Some see it as concerning and scary while others see it as beneficial. One news outlet has even reported on how My AI could be a huge beneficial factor towards mental health. People may confide with the chat box and talk about their issues and problems, almost as their own therapist. The question remains as to if My AI will stick around or if this new addition is just a temporary experiment?