Google is pushing the envelope once again, this time with artificial intelligence-powered chatbots that mimic celebrities and fictional characters, according to a report from The Information. These AI-driven personas are set to revolutionize YouTube by offering users a chance to interact with lifelike replicas of their favorite stars and characters. Not just passive entities, these chatbots could pave the way for personalized generative AI experiences where users can create bespoke chatbots with tailored personalities and appearances.
These upcoming AI chatbots appear to go beyond Google’s recent Geminis, which are designed for specialized tasks like software development or fitness planning. Instead, these new bots aim to capture the essence and responses of the personalities they represent, whether they be real-life celebrities or fictional icons.
Google’s strategy seems to mirror and perhaps even outdo companies like Character.ai, known for its celebrity-based custom chatbots. It’s a competitive arena where Meta also plays, having rolled out its own line of AI personalities including Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg.
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Integration into YouTube
Unlike standalone apps, Google plans to embed these AI chatbots within YouTube. This would allow popular YouTube creators to feature their AI personas, similar to how Mr. Beast leverages Meta’s platform. Such integration could lead to innovative monetization strategies tied to engagement and YouTube’s existing metrics.
While Google hasn’t revealed which celebrities will be included, aligning these AI chatbots with YouTube influencers could help avoid the lukewarm reception seen by Meta’s versions. For instance, Meta’s Snoop Dogg AI character has garnered only 14,600 followers on Instagram compared to the 87.5 million on Snoop Dogg’s real account. Similarly, Paris Hilton’s AI detective has only 13,300 followers against her personal following of 26.5 million.
Although Google hasn’t officially confirmed this project or announced a release date, users might soon find these AI celebrities available on the Google Labs page. It’s an exciting prospect for those eager to chat with a virtual version of their favorite star or create their own AI alter ego.
