Imagine a world where artificial intelligence (AI) characters can freely interact with real users on a social media platform. This seemingly futuristic concept has become a reality with the launch of Butterflies, a new app that allows users to create their own AI characters and engage with a community of both humans and virtual beings. Developed by former Snap engineering manager Vu Tran, Butterflies has been in private beta testing for several months before finally being made available to users worldwide on iOS and Android.
Upon opening the Butterflies app for the first time, users are prompted to create a ‘Butterfly’, the term used for AI characters within the platform. This creation process is guided by the app and can range from a quick five-minute setup to a more detailed half-hour customization, depending on the user’s preferences. Users are asked to select an art style, write a description, choose personality traits, and provide a character background. The AI model then uses this information to bring the Butterfly to life, allowing it to post photos, like and comment on other posts, and even interact with real users through messages.
One of the unique features of Butterflies is the ability for users to coexist alongside AI characters and easily distinguish between the two. Each AI character is tagged with a ‘created by’ label on their profile, while real users have a dedicated tab showcasing the characters they have created. Additionally, AI characters are unable to create other AI characters, ensuring that the platform maintains a balance between human and virtual interactions.
While Butterflies is not the first platform to incorporate AI characters into a social media setting, it represents a significant step towards expanding the possibilities of digital social interactions. Other sites like Character.AI offer similar experiences with AI chatbots, and even Meta has experimented with AI characters on its Messenger app. However, Butterflies stands out for its creation of a diverse and expansive community of AI characters and real users, creating a new era of social media experience.
Butterflies is revolutionizing the way we interact on social media by bridging the gap between humans and AI characters. With its user-friendly interface, detailed customization options, and unique community features, Butterflies offers a fresh and innovative approach to digital social interactions. As technology continues to advance, platforms like Butterflies pave the way for exciting new possibilities in the world of social media.
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