Instagram is reportedly developing a new chatbot feature that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI). Users will soon have the ability to interact with AI Agents designed to answer questions, provide recommendations, and assist with message composition. This news emerges amid a surge of applications and platforms integrating AI functionalities.
Insights from developer Alessandro Paluzzi, known for his work in app discovery, suggest that Instagram is in the process of introducing these AI Agents into the chat function. Users will be able to interact with these chatbots within their conversations, enhancing the overall chat experience.
A screenshot released by Paluzzi, derived from reverse engineering the iOS app, depicted a popup card indicating the upcoming “Chat with an AI” feature. This feature promises to facilitate question-and-answer interactions while allowing users to engage with a selection of up to 30 different AI personalities.
Additionally, the chatbot feature aims to assist users in crafting messages, suggesting that these AI tools may also perform generative tasks. However, specifics regarding how this message composition feature will function have not been disclosed by Paluzzi.
A second image shared by the developer showcased an Instagram chat interface featuring a new @ai command, identifiable by a magic wand icon, which summons a chatbot named ai_meta. This command appeared alongside the /silent option, which allows users to send messages without alerting recipients.
Currently, Instagram and its parent company Meta have not announced any timeline for the rollout of AI chatbots on the platform. The fate of the feature remains uncertain, as it could undergo modifications before launch or potentially be shelved altogether.
Meta is also preparing to introduce a new decentralized platform, under the codename Barcelona, aimed at competing with Twitter. Reports indicate that this text-centric app, which is presently being tested by select creators and influencers, will be compatible with services such as Mastodon. Like the AI chatbot feature, there is no update on when this application will be available to the wider public.
