The future of AI might look a lot like Twitter | The Vergecast

30 Sep 2024 (3 months ago)

The Genesis of Social AI

Michael Samon previously attempted to create an AI-powered social media app called "Influencer" approximately five years ago, but the technology available at the time was insufficient. (3m1s)
The app's purpose was to provide users with a social media-like experience without the drawbacks, but the limited capabilities of language models resulted in a robotic and conditional interaction. (3m6s)

The speaker waited for two years for large language models to become less expensive and more accurate before building their app. (7m11s)
The speaker believes that social media is not what it used to be because the internet has changed from a tool of communication between people to a data set that can simulate human connection. (9m36s)

The speaker built their app to address the problem of not being able to discern the difference between humans and AI on social media platforms. (10m48s)
People are increasingly turning to public social media and AI for advice and conversation when they lack support networks in their lives. (12m41s)

Social AI is presented as a secondary option for those who need support but don't have readily available human connections, offering a space for conversation and advice without the pitfalls of traditional social media. (13m17s)
Social AI distinguishes itself from traditional AI models by providing multiple responses and perspectives on a given topic, mimicking the multifaceted nature of human conversation and allowing users to engage with the information more organically. (16m6s)

The Social AI app requires users to select the types of bots they want as followers, such as supporters, skeptics, or optimists. These bots then reply to the user's posts in a manner consistent with their designated personality type. (19m18s)
The platform includes a trending topics page that reflects the user's individual interests and interactions, allowing them to explore AI discussions on those topics. (30m28s)

The reaction to the Social AI app was mixed: some found it interesting and fun, others deemed it stupid and dystopian, while some questioned its authenticity, believing it to be a joke or an art project. (22m1s)
People are using social AI platforms as a safe space to explore different perspectives and engage in debates without fear of judgment or embarrassment. (24m20s)
Social AI is being used as a tool for brainstorming and generating new ideas, with users engaging in extended back-and-forth conversations with AI to explore different facets of a topic. (25m47s)

Social AI is a platform where AI bots interact with users and provide information based on their interests. (30m4s)
Social AI aims to be a new interface for interacting with language models, providing value through social interaction rather than focusing on building a social network. (31m38s)

The goal is to create a social AI that surpasses ChatGPT in answering questions. (35m39s)
The speaker believes that providing multiple responses from different perspectives is more beneficial than a single answer. (35m49s)
The roadmap includes building out a complete interaction funnel with language models, starting with direct messaging (DMs). (39m8s)
The goal of social AI is to provide a comprehensive experience that encompasses various communication methods, from broad overviews to direct interactions. (40m32s)
Users have expressed a preference for being able to "favorite" specific AIs, similar to how users save or bookmark content, rather than "following" them as one would on a social network. (42m52s)
The speaker believes the product's interface will evolve significantly from its initial skeuomorphic design, but does not have a specific vision for its final form. (46m4s)

The speaker's primary focus is not on monetizing the product, but rather on addressing the personal need for a space to process thoughts without resorting to social media. (48m34s)
The speaker has observed people suggesting that Elon Musk should use Social AI to test his thoughts before tweeting them. (50m22s)
A person's mother sent a screenshot of the app the person created, after using it to rant about work in Spanish. (51m2s)
The person found it humorous that their mother was using the app to rant about work in Spanish. (51m15s)