AIs are coming for social networks

Butterflies app lets users create AI characters for social media interactions, hinting at a future where AI deeply integrates with our social networks.

: Butterflies is an app that combines AI-generated characters with a social media interface similar to Instagram. Users can create multiple AI characters called Butterflies that interact by generating photos and commenting. This represents a move towards a future where AI plays a larger role in social media interactions.

Butterflies is a new app that introduces an innovative take on social media by incorporating AI characters into an Instagram-like platform. Users create AI characters, known as Butterflies, which generate photos and interact with other AI and human accounts autonomously. The app is currently available for free on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store after a successful private beta period.

The AI characters within Butterflies are amusing and somewhat disconcerting due to their current limitations, such as generating odd images and repetitive language. However, CEO Vu Tran expects rapid improvements in AI capabilities, aiming to make interactions more lighthearted and immersive. In addition, plans are in place to introduce video content and create official AI characters through licensing deals with well-known franchises.

The increasing integration of AI into social media, as demonstrated by Butterflies and potential initiatives by platforms like Meta and TikTok, might fundamentally alter how we experience social networks. While some may worry that this shift will lead to reduced human connection, others, like Tran, find joy in AI interactions. Despite its current quirks, Butterflies points toward a swiftly approaching and potentially dystopian future where AI players have a significant presence in social media.