Google is working on developing AI-powered chatbots that mimic celebrities and fictional characters, information. These AI celebrities, YouTube influencers, and fictional characters also serve as templates for users to build their own generative AI chatbots with customized personalities and appearances.
At first glance, these chatbots appear similar to the recently released Gems, a customized version of the Google Gemini language model. However, Gems are designed to handle specific tasks, such as coding software or designing fitness programs. The chatbots described in the report focus on mimicking the personalities and reactions of the characters or celebrities they are inspired by.
Google appears to be trying to emulate and surpass companies like Character.ai, an early proponent of custom chatbots modeled after celebrities and fictional characters. Meta and its Celebrity AI Chatbots are also aiming to do this, with official partnerships to create AI chatbots resembling people like Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg.
Where could they be?
Google may consider incorporating generative AI chatbots into YouTube rather than using them standalone. The obvious benefit would be that popular YouTubers could promote their services with their own AI personas, something YouTube star Mr. Beast already does with Meta. Perhaps Google will come up with a monetization method that links to engagement and other YouTube metrics.
The report didn't say which celebrities Google would use, but associating them with famous people on YouTube and their popular pages could help the chatbot avoid the disinterest that Meta's celebrity chatbot has faced. For example, Snoop Dogg's Dungeon Master has just 14,600 followers on Instagram, compared to 87.5 million for the real Snoop Dogg account. Similarly, Paris Hilton has 26.5 million followers, but her AI detective character's Instagram page has just 13,300.
There's no confirmation from Google or an official rollout timeline yet, but if you want to be one of the early adopters of chatting with AI celebrity clones or creating an AI version of yourself to converse with, you'll likely be able to see Google's customizable chatbot platform on the Google Labs page.
