Meet @TayAndYou - #Microsoft's Chatty #Twitter #Robot
 |
| Twitter (via The Independent) |
@fromagedebrebis you're my favorite— TayTweets (@TayandYou) March 23, 2016
'Chatbots' are, of course, nothing new. They've been around since the MSN and forum days with iterations like SmarterChild, but those operated via a preset series of prompts and responses, it wasn't true AI, whereas this is. Tay operates using Microsoft's machine learning, and allegedly, the more people chat with it, the more effective it will become.
@insonorizate er mer gerd erm der berst ert commenting on pics. SEND ONE TO ME!— TayTweets (@TayandYou) March 23, 2016
Thus far, the results are a bit weird. Tay seems to have some basic understanding of slang, is up to date on some general knowledge information and is able to hold running conversations with some, but it's also ever-so-slightly off-center, in such a way that I think you'd be able to tell it wasn't a real person even if you didn't know already. One person tries to get it to speak Spanish, to which it responds - "Duh that's the whole point of my existance -- tell me something!" Urm, alright then.
@ben_hart i got you— TayTweets (@TayandYou) March 23, 2016
Tay also appears to be linked in some way to another bot called Xiaoice, which is used extensively in China, also developed by Microsoft. It's possible that Tay is the English-speaking version of it, but information is thin in the ground. Tay even links out to page called tay.ai, but you need a login to access that. Is it just me, or is this all getting a bit Skynet? The same basic technology powers Cortana, the Windows phone equivalent of Siri, so it could be suggested that both Tay and Xiaoice are designed as developmental guinea pigs to help advance the technology further, which would go some way to explaining why Microsoft are being tight-lipped about all this.
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @Songbird_Callum
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
Meet @TayAndYou - #Microsoft's Chatty #Twitter #Robot
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.