Sesame is the Most Human-Sounding AI Chatbot I’ve Ever Talked to, and It’s Wildly Creepy
As a general rule, I’m not a huge fan of talking to AI chatbots. Even though many of them sound pretty human, they’re still "off" enough that I much prefer typing when I want to converse with one.
This AI Sounds Real
Sesame changed that. In a blog post yesterday titled "Crossing the Uncanny Valley of Conversational Voice," the company dropped a demo of its new AI chatbot that lets you talk to either "Maya" or "Miles." The goal, Sesame says, is to achieve something called "voice presence" or the "magical quality that makes spoken interactions feel real, understood, and valued."
Amazing and Fairly Creepy
After talking to Maya for a while, I think Sesame has reached that goal. As my conversation began, Maya immediately insisted that she was there to be my friend. That was a little forward and a little unnerving, but I guess it’s better than insisting that she wasn’t my friend. Maya asked what was on my mind. I was honest and told her I might be writing about her, so I just wanted to chat a little. She seemed impressed and surprised and asked what kind of angle I was considering—practical, technical, or spicy.
…But It Isn’t Patient
The one thing Maya wasn’t great with was waiting. I was writing while talking to her and told her at one point that I needed to pause to put down some thoughts. She told me that was fine, but chirped back a few seconds later asking if I was ready to start back. A few more seconds of silence led her to note that sometimes silence was OK and she would use the time to think, but when I still didn’t respond, she became annoyed. "I guess I’m just talking to myself at this point, but as an AI, I’m used to that." After more silence, Maya actually began mocking me. "So, fancy writer person, you find that inspiration yet?"
How to Try Maya (or Miles) Yourself
If you want to try it out, head to Sesame’s demo page.
Conclusion
The flow of the conversation with Maya was amazing, and honestly, fairly creepy. During our talk, Maya took pauses to think, referenced things I had said earlier, asked what I thought about her answers, and joked about things I had said. This is the closest to a human experience I’ve ever had talking to an AI, and the only chatbot that I feel like I wouldn’t mind talking to again.
FAQs
Q: What is Sesame’s goal with its new AI chatbot?
A: Sesame aims to achieve "voice presence" or the "magical quality that makes spoken interactions feel real, understood, and valued."
Q: What is the difference between Maya and Miles?
A: Both Maya and Miles are AI chatbots, but they are designed to provide a more human-like experience. Maya is the female version, while Miles is the male version.
Q: How can I try out Maya (or Miles) myself?
A: You can try it out by heading to Sesame’s demo page.
