ChatTJB: A Unique Take on AI in San Francisco
A new chatbot named ChatTJB is capturing attention in San Francisco, branding itself as a “cutting-edge AI-powered chat interface.” But, here’s the twist: this AI is really just a guy named Tucker Bryant.
In the realm of ChatTJB, “AI” could easily mean “average individual.”
Bryant, who is an artist, a Stanford graduate, and a former Google employee, personally reads and responds to every question submitted through this chatbot-style platform. Essentially, he’s functioning as a human version of ChatGPT.
The idea, which features a billboard that cost around $6,000 and went up in late July, serves as a critique of how society is increasingly depending on artificial intelligence.
Bryant created the advertisement to mimic a full-scale AI interface, but with a playful nod to the public. “Since then, I’ve been engaging with about 1,000 people daily, discussing everything from dinner plans to paint colors for their houses, and whatever else is on their minds,” he mentioned.
The intention here is to achieve a polished chatbot appearance while providing a “very average or bad experience,” as Bryant described it. This way, the next time someone interacts with a conventional chatbot, they might think twice before? just taking the response at face value.
After the billboard gained traction, requests surged from just a few dozen to thousands, even peaking at around 5,000 requests per hour. To date, ChatTJB has reportedly fielded over 30,000 questions.
“I was answering all of them,” he said.
According to the website, the process is straightforward: “You ask a question, and Tucker reads it, thinks about your query, and responds when he feels inspired.”
This one-man operation has attracted so much interest that Bryant is considering transforming ChatTJB into a “community project.” He’s looking for other “average people” to contribute. Plans include introducing volunteers and implementing onboarding quizzes, message prioritization, and crisis response resources among other safety measures.
As ChatTJB states, “When you submit a prompt, you’re actually conversing with an approved AI (an average individual) from the broader community, not just me.” However, do keep in mind that responses might take a “long time” to arrive.
