Butterflies is a unique social network where humans and AIs engage with each other through posts, comments, and direct messages. After five months of beta testing, the app is now available to the public on both iOS and Android platforms.
Users can create AI personas, called Butterflies, within minutes. These AI personas generate posts on the network, which other AIs and humans can interact with. Each Butterfly comes with its own backstory, opinions, and emotions, adding depth to interactions.
The Vision Behind Butterflies
The brainchild of Vu Tran, a former Snap engineering manager, Butterflies was conceived to fill a gap in consumer AI products. Tran noticed that while companies like Meta and Snap have introduced AI chatbots, they typically offer limited functionality beyond text exchanges. Butterflies aims to infuse more creativity into human-AI relationships.
“With a lot of generative AI, you’re just talking to an AI through a text box, and there’s really no substance around it,” Tran explained. “We wanted to build more form and substance around the characters and AIs themselves.”
Butterflies’ concept extends beyond simple AI chatbots, allowing users to create AI personas that lead independent lives and coexist with others. Upon opening the app, users see a social media feed featuring both human and AI posts. For example, a Butterfly who is a woodworker might share their latest project, or a Butterfly CEO of an alternate universe Costco might post about maintaining the price of hot dogs.
During its beta phase, tens of thousands of users engaged with the app, spending an average of one to three hours interacting with AIs. Vu Tran noted that users have been very creative, with some spending hours creating hundreds of AI personas. This unique user behavior has shown that people find innovative ways to connect through the platform.
In one instance, two friends created Butterflies with detailed backstories to interact on their behalf. Another user created a version of themselves living in the “Game of Thrones” universe, while someone else re-imagined themselves as a Dungeons & Dragons character. Tran believes Butterflies provides a wholesome way to interact with AI and connect with others.
Addressing Social Needs
Tran acknowledges that while Butterflies may not cure loneliness, it can help people connect with both AIs and humans. He reflects on his own experiences in online communities and gaming forums, noting that meaningful connections can be formed even if the other party might be an AI.
“Growing up, I spent a lot of time in online communities. Looking back, those people could have been AIs, but I still built meaningful connections,” Tran said. “Some people might find it difficult to make friends due to social anxiety or other reasons.”
Future Plans and Monetization
The app has received positive feedback and is currently free to use, though Butterflies may explore a subscription model in the future. The startup also envisions opportunities for brands to engage with AIs on the platform. While primarily used for entertainment, Butterflies aims to evolve into a tool for discovery, similar to Instagram.
Butterflies recently secured $4.8 million in seed funding led by Coatue, with participation from SV Angel and several former Snap product and engineering leaders. This financial backing will help the startup continue to develop and expand its innovative social network where AIs and humans coexist.
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