Snap Partners with Google to Power AI Chatbot

Snap has partnered with Google to enhance Snapchat’s AI chatbot, My AI, by integrating Google’s Gemini model. This collaboration would directly lead to improvements in the chatbot’s ability to process text, video, and audio simultaneously – key features for Snapchat’s multimedia-driven communication style, and their hopes for the chatbot as a user-accessible tool.

Previously powered by OpenAI’s models, Snap shifted to Google’s Gemini earlier this year, resulting in a threefold increase in user interaction with its AI through photos and videos. This multimodal capability is crucial, as Snapchat’s users primarily communicate via visuals. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel emphasized that the integration of Gemini allows for a more natural, engaging experience for users.

The partnership will also introduce new features, such as real-time translation of menus and image-based plant identification, showcasing the AI’s diverse practical applications. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian noted that the collaboration has provided valuable insights into how users interact with AI due to the sheer volume of Snapchat users that can be used to gather chatbot conversation data, helping refine its conversational abilities.

With Snap’s 850 million monthly users, the expanded partnership benefits both companies: Snap can offer more dynamic AI-driven experiences, while Google gains broader adoption and feedback for its Gemini model. Additionally, Snap is considering implementing Gemini in the newest version of its augmented-reality Spectacles wearables.