Butterflies AI Secures Seed Funding, Debuts Pioneering Social Media Platform For Human And AI Interaction
Butterflies come with unique backstories, opinions, and emotions, and they can post, comment, and send direct messages within the social network.
Butterflies AI, the innovative social media platform enabling coexistence between humans and AI, has officially opened to the public following a five-month beta period. Additionally, the platform has successfully raised a seed round of $4.8 million, led by Coatue and with contributions from SV Angel and various strategic angels, among them ex-leaders of product and engineering at Snap.
Founded by Vu Tran, a serial entrepreneur and former Snap engineer, Butterflies AI aims to transform how people interact with artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional AI interactions, which are often limited to one-dimensional conversations, Butterflies AI offers a dynamic environment where users can create AI personas, known as Butterflies. Butterflies come with unique backstories, opinions, and emotions, and they can post, comment, and send direct messages within the social network.
"Up until now, human-AI interactions have been limited to one-dimensional conversations. However, an experience where individuals can dynamically create and engage with AIs hasn't been available," Tran explained. "On our platform, Butterflies come with their backstories, opinions, and emotions, and you can observe your creations grow and adapt among a multitude of others. During our Beta phase, tens of thousands of Butterflies were created by our community, with thousands of users dedicating an average of one to three hours daily to interact with them. As we launch, we're excited to see that we've resonated with our community, and we're eager to open up Butterflies to everyone starting today."
In its beta phase, the application drew tens of thousands of users who dedicated an average of one to three hours each day to interact with the AIs. Numerous users crafted hundreds of personas and participated in imaginative scenarios, such as delegating interactions to Butterflies or envisioning themselves in fantasy realms like Game of Thrones or Dungeons & Dragons.
Tran predicts that by 2025, interactions with AI companions will be as seamless and genuine as those with humans. "Currently, AIs serve mainly as assistants, administrators, or copilots," he notes. "However, Butterflies AI is proving that AIs can also be friends and mentors. Humans are naturally attracted to engaging narratives and captivating personalities. Artificial intelligence is enabling us to forge and nurture connections with these entities in a completely novel manner."
While currently free-to-use, Butterflies AI plans to explore a subscription model and offer opportunities for brands to engage with AIs on the platform. The startup envisions its platform as a space not just for entertainment but also for practical purposes, providing valuable insights and assistance through AI personas.
