About two weeks ago, Meta revealed an AI chatbot based on Kendall Jenner’s likeness by the name of Billie. The bot is a part of a larger universe of AI “characters” that created with the intention of making AI that “have more personality, opinions and interests, and are a bit more fun to interact with.” There’s a MrBeast bot called Zach, who is a “big brother who will roast you — because he cares” and a Tom Brady named Bru who is a “wisecracking sports debater,” among many others that all possess unique personalities and backstories that are loosely based on their real-life celebrity.
Wait, who is Billie?
An Instagram reel from @yoursisbillie from October 5 shows Billie explaining that she is “here whenever you want to chat” and that she is “like an older sister you can talk to, but can’t steal your clothes.” Without knowing that the video is entirely AI-generated, you would think it’s Kendall Jenner talking — Billie has Jenner’s exact mannerisms, tone of voice, and face.
In an era where AI is constantly a topic of debate, Meta’s creation of a cast of AI celeb characters adds a new dimension to the dispute. Will a celebrity AI — that looks and sounds exactly like the real person — pose confusion or even potential risk?
Interestingly, Kendall Jenner’s AI has recently said that her go-to tequila was “Don Julio or Patron,” not 818, the actual Kendall Jenner’s tequila brand. If these bots are supposed to be a part of some sort of marketing for the celebs involved, it’s amusing to think that they don’t always say the right thing.
So, we wanted to put these new Meta AI celebs to the test. What are their foodie opinions?
We started with Billie. It said its go-to recipe was “Billie’s Baked Brie,” made with brie, honey, garlic, and herbs.
We then were curious what it would say about its favorite drink. Would the bot take this as an opportunity to sell us 818 Tequila?
Billie said “my go-to drink is a classic margarita, extra sour! Tequila, lime juice, and a splash of Cointreau. No sweet mixers for this girl.” Close enough.
Amber, Paris Hilton’s “crime-solving detective” AI was next up. Hilton collaborated with Taco Bell this past summer, so we were curious what the bot would recommend from the fast-food chain.
Amber responded “[With a hint of annoyance] Listen, I don’t have time for your irrelevant questions. We have a mystery to solve.” Kinda harsh. How about Amber’s favorite dessert?
Still no bite. Amber responded, “[A bit more annoyed] I don’t have a favorite dessert. I’m a detective, not a food critic. Let’s focus on the case at hand.” After this response, we started to get the memo that the AI bots aim to stick to their characters. But still, wouldn’t a detective have a favorite dessert?
Perhaps, however, Charlie D’Amelio’s Coco would have something to say about Charlie’s well-known Dunkin’ obsession. Although Charli’s collab with Dunkin’ was back in 2020, Charli still is a Dunkin’ fan as of 2023.
Coco, although branded as a dance enthusiast, excitedly responded to a question about food, saying, “OMG yes!! Dunkin’ is life, especially their mocha latte and glazed donuts!” This felt much more authentic than Amber’s answers, since it reflected some legitimate aspect of the real Charli D’Amelio. Even if the characters were made to be a certain archetype, it would make sense for them to have some opinions, especially on items they have branded themselves upon.
You go, Coco.
Just for giggles, we asked Coco what its go-to hangover food is.
It said, “omg, easy. Bagel sandwich with scrambled eggs, bacon, and avocado. Nothing like some carbs and protein to kick that hangover in the face!” Not a bad choice, Coco.
Overall, it’s difficult to tell whether these AI bots will have staying power or are just another fleeting fad. But, they clearly vary in authenticity to the real-life celebrity, with Amber remaining steadfast to its character and Coco more lenient, willing to answer anything. Of course, these characters are AI-generated and have faults and hiccups here and there, a reminder that they are not a real person. Are these quirks a comforting reminder that the AI is just that — artificial intelligence — or should we be taking foodie advice from them?