Dive Brief:
- Microsoft is working to reinvent its artificial intelligence-run chatbot efforts with "Zo." The new chatbot was first spotted by Twitter user Tom Hounsell, according to MS Power User, and is only available on Kik, unlike its predecessor "Tay," which was available across social media platforms.
Oh, this could be fun. Tay's been renamed to Zo?https://t.co/lF9d0sOlS0
— Tom Hounsell (@tomhounsell) December 4, 2016
- Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced another AI-powered chatbot called Tay. The intention was for users to interact with the product so she could learn new responses and grow more intelligent. But within 24 hours, internet trolls, using Twitter, were able to train Tay to respond with racially insensitive language and misogyny.
- But as MS Power User reports, Zo is significantly more censored than Tay. The chatbot specializes in normal conversations and avoids sensitive topics, such as politics. Microsoft has not yet officially announced the project.
Dive Insight:
This is a do-over for Microsoft. The last time the company tried to offer a quirky, teenage bot, the experiment failed and was splashed across headlines, with some referring to it as the neo-Nazi millennial chatbot. But Microsoft's efforts aren't just to create a quirky product. The company is trying to polish natural language processing, enhancing how people can interact with bots to accomplish daily tasks.
Part of that learning process is to understand different kinds of speech, not just those who speak formal English. That has led the company to experiment with millennial-oriented chatbots.
Microsoft, similar to other major tech providers, is going all in on AI solutions, particularly in the enterprise. The technology giant wants to revolutionize how organizations work with data and change how they interact with customer service. All that requires advanced technology, which is part of the company's pursuit to "democratize AI" for the "greater good."
