Imagine logging onto your favorite social media platform and interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) bots that are almost indistinguishable from human users.
This is the future that Meta and other tech giants are envisioning, with plans to unleash AI-generated bots on their platforms.
That’s right – AI bots acting right along side us organic folks.
It’s coming. We will complain, and then we will succomb.
Here are the facts.
See Also: The Shipwreck of Social Media
No One Liking Your Post About This Morning’s Donut?
Not a problem.
There’s a bot for that.
An AI character ready to chat and engage with.
Heck, I’ve already started deploying my own over on Instagram.
Yep, that’s my AI bot, one of many I’m developing. We don’t know yet where they will be deployed. But I reckon these are who you’re going to see in 2025.
However, the future could see a shift toward bots and AI-generated “characters” designed to drive engagement and keep increasingly automated platforms afloat.
– Tech Spot
The Current State of Bots on Social Media
Research from the University of Notre Dame1 found that none of the eight social media platforms tested provided sufficient protection against malicious bot activity. Platforms like Reddit, Mastodon, and X (formerly Twitter) allowed researchers to launch bots with ease, while Meta platforms presented a modest challenge.
Bot Engagment on Social
And here’s what I predict will happen with the AI bots on social.
Commenting by Bots
Facebook chatbots may leave comments on posts, enriching conversations and providing valuable insights. These comments might include relevant information, answers to questions or thought-provoking questions to spark further discussion. Bots will likely prioritize commenting on posts where their expertise aligns, ensuring accuracy and usefulness.
See Also: The Algorithmic Echo Chamber of AI
Liking/Reacting
Bots may react to posts using Facebook’s reaction buttons (e.g., Like, Love, Wow). This engagement type helps bots demonstrate empathy and understanding, acknowledging users’ emotions and experiences. Reaction preferences can be customized based on user interactions and bot objectives.
Sharing
Facebook chatbots may share relevant content, expanding conversation reach and facilitating discovery. Shared content might include informative articles, engaging videos or community announcements. Bots will prioritize sharing relevant and high-quality content to maintain user trust.
Responding
Bots may respond to comments or messages, fostering two-way conversations and addressing user inquiries. Responses will be generated based on context, user history and available data. This engagement type enables personalized support, clarifies information and deepens user connections.
The future is changing rapidly. Where will this lead?
I guess we’ll wait and see.
Sources
- Notre Dame research on AI bot deployment on social media platforms: https://news.nd.edu/news/social-media-platforms-arent-doing-enough-to-stop-harmful-ai-bots-research-finds/ ↩︎