Viber, the popular instant messaging platform from Rakuten, has launched a new feature that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to assist users in keeping track of unread messages. This chat summarization tool is designed to provide brief overviews of group conversations, helping users quickly catch up on discussions they may have missed.
The feature is initially rolling out in select regions, with plans for broader availability in the near future. Competitors like Google have already implemented a similar tool through their Gemini AI, which offers summary capabilities for Google Chat discussions.
Rakuten, the parent company of Viber, announced the feature in a recent press release, noting that it is powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology. Currently, this AI summarization functionality is limited to group chats and does not extend to one-on-one conversations. According to the company, “The AI summarizer extracts the most important parts of a user’s group conversations and, in an instant, concisely conveys in bullet points what has been discussed.”
Users can expect the AI to summarize up to 100 unread messages at a time. When joining a group chat with a backlog of messages, individuals will receive an option to obtain a summary of the key discussion points. By selecting this option, the AI will provide a structured message highlighting the essential parts of the conversation.
This new feature is designed to save users from the tedious task of scrolling through numerous messages to grasp the context of the discussion and ensure that important information is not overlooked.
Privacy remains a priority; the summaries will not include any personal identifiers aside from usernames, preventing any direct link between specific conversations and group members. Furthermore, Viber maintains that it does not store any conversations or summaries on its servers, upholding user privacy and data security.
Currently, the new chat summarization feature is being made available in the United States, the Philippines, Ukraine, Japan, Bulgaria, and Poland. The company has indicated that additional regions will gain access soon. The AI chat summary function is compatible with both Android and iOS devices and supports over 50 languages.
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