The time is ripe for bots to make their move on the market, and messaging apps are taking advantage of this interest in artificial intelligence-powered software. Nik is the latest messaging app to have joined the party by offering even more publishers’ bots for its users and opening up its platform so third-party developers will be able to create their own and make it available to users through its Bot Store. Any of the app’s 275 million registered users can now access even more of the bots’ services without having to leave the app.
Bots aren’t something new to Kik though, as you could previously use them to do basic web tasks for you within the app. But now, partners are getting into the game to offer you even more specified information, play games, get GIFs, and basically have fun with any of the 16 new bots. The partners include Funny or Die, Sephora, H&M, Vine, The Weather Channel, etc. As you can see, the brands are varied and cover a wide range of interests.
Furthermore, Kik is also opening up its platform for other developers, naming three launch partners Imperson, Massively, and Sequel, to help developers and even brands to create these bot. Nik will of course have final approval before the bots are released into the wilds of the Kik Bot Store. Ted Livingston, founder and CEO of Kik said that since they’ve been in the cutting edge of chat development the past years, they decided to now focus on “low-friction experiences” for their users.
As part of the launch of the Bot Shop, Kik is also introducing new features to bots, specifically web bubbles or wubbles for rich media content in conversations, suggested responses, and a mention feature for the bots. Go to bots.kik.com to start chatting with the new bots.
SOURCE: Kik
