TikTok is currently experimenting with Tako, an AI chatbot that provides video recommendations based on user queries, as per screenshots of the feature shared with The Verge. Should TikTok decide to release Tako on a larger scale, it could significantly transform the app’s search and navigation interface, as noted by Daniel Buchuk of Watchful Technologies, a company that monitors upcoming app changes for Fortune 500 businesses.
The Verge was provided with screenshots of the Tako test by Buchuk, revealing that the chatbot appears above the TikTok profile icon to the right of a video, and can answer a diverse range of user queries in a chat screen. The AI model that TikTok is utilizing to power Tako remains unknown at this time.
Tako will provide recommended prompts to assist users in initiating a conversation with the chatbot. As per Buchuk, “If a user is watching food-related videos and inquires about a recipe, Tako will display relevant TikTok videos for that recipe. Similarly, if a user requests information about notable art exhibitions in Paris, the bot will display videos alongside a list of recommendations.” One screenshot depicts Tako recommending a prompt, “What is the significance of King Charles III’s coronation?”
According to Zachary Kizer, a spokesperson for TikTok, the chatbot is presently a “limited experiment” and is not yet available to users in North America or Europe. The company also stated in a tweet that the test is currently exclusive to the Philippines.
In an emailed statement, Kizer stated that TikTok is continuously investigating novel technologies that can enhance user experience. He further added that the company is experimenting with alternative approaches to enable search and discovery on TikTok in a few markets. TikTok is committed to creating a secure platform that entertains, encourages creativity, and contributes to cultural development, and it anticipates learning from its community during this process.
As noted by attorney Josh Gerben, TikTok has recently submitted a trademark application for “chatbot software” named Tako, indicating that the company may be preparing for a broader rollout of the feature. TikTok is not the first social media platform to adopt chatbots in recent times. In April, Snapchat offered its My AI bot for free to all users, and Mark Zuckerberg expressed his desire to introduce AI agents to billions of people during a Meta investor meeting.
