Snap Inc., the maker of the Snapchat app, is testing ways that its popular new artificial intelligence chatbot can boost the company’s advertising business.
More than 150 million people — about 20% of Snapchat’s monthly users — have sent 10 billion messages to the chatbot, called My AI, since it was introduced at the end of February, the company said Thursday. Users have asked about everything from skin care recommendations to details about the latest sports car.
My AI, which calls itself the “virtual friend within Snapchat,” has already helped Snap diversify its revenue stream in a way many social media companies have struggled to do: through paid subscriptions. After the feature was first released to the app’s paying users, Snap’s total subscriber numbers rose to more than 3 million in April.
