There was a time when it was fashionable to see new social media offerings coming in. The merger of several stopped that trend, but the rise of generative AI is bringing us another new approach: a social network where you interact solely with AI bots.

Why is it important?. SocialAI raises many questions about the future of online interactions, the acceptance of digital echo chambers, and the role of AI in our digital lives.

Panoramic.

• SocialAI is a network where the user is the only human. The rest of their universe is made up of AI bots.
• The app mimics the interface of X but removes all interaction with real people. It’s currently iOS only, with no website.
• The user chooses what kind of bots will “follow” their posts and comment on them, with what kind of character, with what kind of responses, etc.
• Creator Michael Sayman presents it as a “safe space” where you can express yourself without fear of judgment or toxicity.

in detail. When you sign up for SocialAI, you can choose from 32 types of AI-generated “followers.” Fans, trolls, intellectuals, jokers—these bots will respond to your posts based on their programmed personalities.

When we publish content, instant responses are generated, creating a false illusion that we are in an active social network where our words are relevant. Everything is artificial. There are bots in X, but they are not the entire universe, nor are they under the user’s control.

• The founder is a former Facebook employee and describes the experience as “liberating”, removing social pressure.

Let’s see an example of the responses that came in. The bots’ personality choice is the choice of the image at the top of this article.

Image: Xataka, Mockuuups Studio.

Between the linesAlthough presented as a safe space, SocialAI has a clear focus: to strengthen ideological bubbles by giving the user absolute control over their own environment and eliminating the potential insecurities that come with confronting real people.

If this social network gains some traction, it will be a sign of our growing comfort with bots.

In perspectiveAlthough its creator reflects seriousness and conviction, SocialAI can also be understood as:

• An ironic critique of current social networks, with no other intention.
• An online experiment on our emotional needs.
• It’s almost a therapeutic tool for training social interactions.
• Another step towards normalizing human-AI relations.

In summaryIt remains unclear how we will remember SocialAI in five years: as a joke, an experiment, a passing curiosity, a serious attempt to create a business, or the start of a trend.

Time will tell.

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Featured image | SocialAI, Xataka, Mockuuups Studio