TikTok is testing an AI chatbot called Tako in the Philippines

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TikTok is in the early stages of testing a new AI-powered chatbot tool called Tako which aims at helping users to search for content on the app, according to a tweet by the company as checked by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE.

Currently, select users in the Philippines are able to access Tako and provide TikTok with feedback in this experimental phase to enhance its algorithm. TikTok also noted that currently, there are no plans to increase the scale of this testing.

tiktok comms

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Along with improving the search and content discovery on the app through AI generated recommendations, Tako will also be able to answer questions and hold conversations with users as seen in screenshots of the chatbot taken by Watchful.

Tako will reportedly display suggested prompts to help a user start a conversation with the bot such as “What is the significance of King Charles III’s coronation?”.

There are also security measures in place for Tako as it warns users that the information provided by it may not be true or accurate and therefore not fit to be relied on for medical, legal and financial advice in a prompt before one is able to use it.

TikTok's foray into AI chatbots to enhance user experience comes as many other platforms have begun adopting AI tools as well. Recently, Lazada unveiled LazzieChat, an eCommerce AI chatbot powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology in Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to provide a more personalised shopping experience to its customers.

LazzieChat, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, will answer a user’s shopping queries and act as a personal shopper by offering personalised suggestions and product recommendations based on a user’s queries.

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