REDnote Group AI
REDnote Group AI (群 AI) enables users to interact with AI chatbots as well as create their own within group chats, marking REDnote’s first step into the AI domain and laying the foundation for future innovation.
As the emergence of generative AI marked a new and uncharted frontier, presenting both opportunities and challenges in a space without precedents, we, within the group chat product line, saw the integration of AI emerged as a unique opportunity to unlock untapped potential while addressing existing challenges.
As the lead designer, I was involved in crafting this innovative experience from the ground up, which blended seamlessly with the existing group chat ecosystem. Its launch achieved unprecedented growth across all key metrics, marking a milestone in our exploration of the emerging field of AI.
Background
Evolving group chats: strengths and challenges
By 2023, two years after the launch of group chat on REDnote, we’ve released various exclusive features that correspond to our community spirit, in order to set ourselves apart from the establishing social platforms.
It is confident to say that our group chat ecosystem has evolved into a diverse and dynamic space, shaped by different user behaviors and interactions. Notably, different groups can be categorized into four distinctive types, each with its own strengths, challenges, and potential.
Casual Chat
Groups
High engagement
Natural content flow
High retention
Limited reach
Limited growth & expansion
Pratical Help
Groups
Strong & wide demands
Valuable & helpful content
Community-driven engagement
Information overload
Delayed responses
Our vision
Tapping into the potentials with AI
- Boosted motivation for group creation. Interactive and playful AI conversations make starting a group more appealing.
- Higher conversation engagement. With real-time responses and customizable prompts, AI prevents stagnation and keeps users involved.
- Optimized decision-making assistance. Instant answers and organized content make it easier for users to find solutions efficiently.
- Influences on chat atmosphere. By role playing, adapting styles, and suggesting topics, AI makes chats more engaging.
Feature roadmap
Phased integration across 3 stages
Digital socialization and companionship
Focused on entertainment-driven groups, this phase introduces AI-powered role-playing to create a unique and engaging group chat experience. By encouraging UGC AI characters, we intend to enhance interactivity and empower young users to explore their creativity.
From fun to practicality
Moving beyond entertainment, this phase shifts AI’s role towards assisting topic-based groups in solving problems. AI becomes a valuable tool for improving discussions and decision-making efficiency.
Strengthening platform differentiation
AI enhances the way people share content and make decisions together. By integrating AI into discussions, this phase reinforces REDnote’s unique positioning as a platform that goes beyond casual chat, fostering deeper collaboration and engagement.
Design-driven solutions
How we approach through design
Identity. Starting with designing a unique profile frame, we established a distinctive identity system for AI, ensuring it remains easily recognizable across all scenarios while maintaining visual consistency.
Discoverability. While respecting the existing chat framework and user habits, AI blends naturally into the group chat experience, subtly piquing user curiosity and encouraging exploration.
Affordability. By mirroring familiar group chat interactions, AI feels natural, intuitive, and effortless to interact with, making conversations seamless—just like chatting with any other member.
AI Democratized. Simplified AI creation for everyone. Lowering the entry threshold to spark and support creativity, empower users to create their own UGC AI characters with zero learning curve.
Identity system
A distinct visual identity for AI
Starting with the avatar frame, we built a unique recognition system for AI. Group chat AI appears in all scenarios with a teardrop-shaped avatar, featuring a distinctive AI badge in the bottom right corner.
Starting with the avatar frame, we built a unique recognition system for AI. Group chat AI appears in all scenarios with a teardrop-shaped avatar, featuring a distinctive AI badge in the bottom right corner.
Beyond the unique shape, we extract theme colors from each AI character’s avatar and apply them consistently across all AI-related interactions, reinforcing a cohesive and recognizable presence.
Quick access
Members list
Message bubble
AI catalog
Discoverability
Simple to start, rich to explore
Group AI is designed to be both simple and expansive, seamlessly integrated into the function drawer for effortless access.
With the AI homepage as your starting point, you can dive right into a variety of community chatbots or create your own, the process is always effortless. Browse and explore different personalities or bring your unique ideas to life by building a custom chatbot—all in one place.
Community chatbots
A diverse catalog at your service
A wide variety of community chatbots are readily available, each designed to suit different needs and interests. Whether you’re looking for a fun conversationalist, a helpful assistant, or a topic-specific AI, there’s always something to play with with just a tap.
Customize chatbot
Create your own AI, now easier than ever
Whenever you want to create something uniquely yours, beyond what’s already available in the community, we’ve got you covered. With just a tap on the Create button at the bottom of the screen, you’ll be guided to a streamlined setup page, making the process simpler and more effortless than ever.
For the most crucial part—the chatbot’s prompt—we’ve lowered the barrier in two ways. Users can either start with customizable templates or generate a base prompt using keywords, ensuring that anyone can create a personalized AI chatbot with ease.
Test conversation
Test it ’til you love it
Before adding a community chatbot or creating your own, a test conversation is always available as an optional final step. This allows you to quickly preview how your chatbot will respond and function. With no pressure and an easy way to experiment, deciding to give it a try has never been easier.
Tap to talk
Simply handy and intuitive
AI chatbots are positioned in the quick access bar above the input box, making interactions effortless and intuitive. The use of theme colors enhances visual differentiation, ensuring that AI chatbots remain instantly recognizable, and feel naturally integrated into the group chat.
Since AI chatbots are treated as equal to group members, users can also easily mention them by typing ”@”, just like they would with any other participant.
As we continue expanding group chat features, we remain committed to keeping the user experience simple and seamless, that every new functionality integrates smoothly without adding unnecessary complexity.
Natural flow
Interact the way it should be
The way AI chatbots interact is integrated seamlessly into the natural flow of group chat discussions, without disrupting the dynamics of the conversation. All standard group chat functionalities remain accessible, ensuring that AI interactions feel like an organic part of the experience.
Whether through replying, mentioning, or directing questions to the AI, the interaction felt natural and consistent with typical group chat dynamics. In this way, chatbots feel like a truly integral part of the group, keeping discussions fluid, engaging, and dynamic.
Launch feedback
Our bold AI debut with promising impacts
The launch of Group AI got well received within the platform, driving engagement and increasing interaction across group chats. As a unique feature of REDnote, it established a clear point of differentiation among chat tools, further reinforcing the platform’s competitive edge.
Group AI contributed to a noticeable rise in the number of active groups and members, fostering a more dynamic and engaged community. Conversations became more interactive, with users participating more frequently and exploring new ways to integrate AI into their discussions.
Beyond increasing activity, Group AI also deepened user engagement by encouraging more conversations, boosting participation, and enhancing the overall group chat experience. The integration of AI made interactions more seamless and intuitive, strengthening the platform’s sense of community.
By integrating AI seamlessly into group chats, we enhanced the way users interact, made conversations feel more dynamic and engaging while helping users stay involved and explore new ways to communicate. This evolution not only improved group interactions but also reinforced REDnote’s role as a platform that fosters meaningful connections within its community.
