Poe's New Feature Lets Users Create Custom AI Chatbots with Prompts

Poe's AI Chatbot App Now Lets Users Create Their Own Bots Using Prompts

Poe, the AI chatbot app developed by Quora, has introduced a new feature allowing users to create their own custom chatbots using prompts and existing AI models as a base. This significant update expands Poe's capabilities beyond simply offering access to pre-built chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude.

Key Features and Updates:

User-Created Bots: Users can now design their own bots by providing a text prompt and selecting a base model (currently supporting Claude Instant and ChatGPT).
Unique Bot URLs: Each created bot will have a unique URL (e.g., poe.com/BotName), making them easily shareable and accessible.
Prompt Engineering Focus: The feature highlights the growing importance of prompt engineering, where specific instructions can significantly improve AI outputs.
Community Sharing: Poe aims to foster a community where users can share their prompt ideas and custom bots.
Subscription Model: Poe previously rolled out subscriptions for access to more powerful models like GPT-4 and Claude+.
Cross-Platform Availability: Users can access Poe through its iOS and Android apps, as well as its desktop web interface.

The Rise of Prompt Engineering:

The ability to create custom bots is a direct response to the increasing sophistication and user engagement with prompt engineering. Users are leveraging prompts to:

Generate text in specific styles (e.g., imitating authors).
Format outputs for particular audiences.
Direct AI to perform highly specialized tasks.

This has led to the emergence of a new creator class focused on crafting effective prompts, with online communities dedicated to sharing and discussing prompt ideas.

Poe's Strategic Position:

As a product from Quora, Poe aims to capitalize on the burgeoning AI chatbot market. By allowing user-generated bots, Poe positions itself as a platform for AI experimentation and creation. This move aligns with the broader trend of AI integration into various consumer-facing products.

Examples of User-Created Bots:

To showcase the new feature, Poe has created several example bots:

PirateBot: (poe.com/PirateBot) - For speaking like a pirate.
Japanese Language Tutor: (poe.com/quhwZAOanx) - For language learning.
Emoji Bot: (poe.com/emojis) - Converts messages into emojis.
RoastMaster Bot: (poe.com/RoastMaster) - Provides lighthearted roasts.

Users have also created bots for practical purposes like trip planning (poe.com/tripAdvisor) and learning math (poe.com/KnowYourMathBot), as well as for entertainment like flirting (poe.com/FlirtBot).

Business Model and Future Plans:

Quora is currently covering the operational costs of the user-created bot feature, including the significant fees associated with running large language models (LLMs). Future plans include:

Creator Feedback: Providing bot creators with usage analytics to help them iterate and improve their bots.
API Development: Launching an API to allow users to host more complex bots on their own servers, potentially creating new business opportunities for Quora.

Market Context:

Poe operates in a competitive landscape with major players like Microsoft (Bing, Edge) integrating AI and numerous AI apps flooding the app stores. However, Poe has shown promising user adoption, with 1.17 million installs and $520,000 in gross revenue, according to data.ai. It currently ranks No. 32 in the Productivity category on the App Store.

Conclusion:

Poe's new user-created bot feature democratizes AI chatbot creation, empowering users to leverage the power of LLMs through intuitive prompting. This move signifies a growing trend towards personalized AI experiences and highlights Poe's commitment to innovation in the rapidly evolving AI space.