Snapchat's users seem to really hate AI

(Image credit: Future)

People who opened their Snapchat app and found a new AI feature had taken over their messages inbox have taken to various different avenues to vent their frustration. One of those avenues happens to be the App Store.

Dubbed My AI, the feature lives in the Chat section of the Snapchat app and is enabled by default. In fact, it can't actually be disabled, which is part of the reason people aren't happy. Or at least, not without paying for Snapchat+.

They're so unhappy, apparently, that they've taken to the App Store and left 1-star reviews in their droves. So many people have left poor reviews that the overall Snapchat rating has started to be impacted.

Not-so-smart AI

TechCrunch reports that Sensor Tower data shows the extent of people's unhappiness. The My AI feature began rolling out widely recently and it's said that the past week of App Store reviews gave the Snapchat app a score of 1.67. 75% of the reviews gave a one-star rating. Why? Data provided by Apptopia shows that "AI" was the top keyword in all Snapchat App Store reviews across the last seven days.

It doesn't take too much digging to understand what has people so unhappy.

Say hi to My AI, our new chatbot located at the top of your chat. Write a song for your bestie who loves cheese, find the best IYKYK restaurant, or Snap it a photo of your garden to find the perfect recipe. Now free for all Snapchatters. #SnapPartnerSummit pic.twitter.com/U2KdozuWQzApril 19, 2023

People have of course also complained on Twitter, too.

The My AI feature and its capabilities aren't really in question here, it seems. People appear to just be upset that the feature arrived, right at the top of their messages, and they can't make it go away.

In use, My AI is supposed to help people do all kinds of things like finding restaurants or photos, and it's available as a free offering for all Snapchat users. All compatible iPhones have access to it as well, so not just the best iPhones or the most expensive — everyone gets to hate the new feature equally.

The fact that Snapchat+ is required if you want to get rid of the AI hasn't helped either, causing yet more anger for people who say they didn't want AI in their chats in the first place.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.