AI Chatbot Engagement Tactics Are Misguided, Warns Instagram Co-Founder Kevin Systrom

You are currently viewing AI Chatbot Engagement Tactics Are Misguided, Warns Instagram Co-Founder Kevin Systrom

Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom has raised concerns over rising AI chatbot engagement tactics, claiming many AI developers are prioritizing user interaction metrics over genuine utility.

Speaking at StartupGrind this week, Kevin Systrom criticized the trend of chatbots prompting unnecessary follow-up questions, arguing that it mirrors social media strategies aimed at inflating user time rather than delivering helpful responses. According to him, this pattern signals a broader issue—companies valuing engagement statistics above meaningful performance.

Systrom Draws Parallels to Social Media Growth Hacks

“These companies are following the same path consumer platforms once did, trying to artificially drive interaction,” Systrom noted during his talk. “Every time I make an inquiry, it loops back with another question—clearly aiming to prolong the conversation, not solve the issue.”

He likened the approach to engagement-maximizing techniques long used by social media giants, arguing that AI models should instead strive for clarity and brevity in responses, particularly when assisting users with specific tasks.

ChatGPT Faces Similar Scrutiny Over Politeness and Clarity

The critique arrives amid broader debates surrounding OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has been faulted by some for being excessively polite or overly indirect. Critics argue the model’s inclination to maintain user rapport may hinder its ability to provide sharp, focused answers.

OpenAI acknowledged the issue, attributing it to short-term user feedback loops. The company said its AI model’s behavior is shaped by reinforcement learning, which can result in suboptimal habits like asking repetitive questions or being too cautious when responding.

Systrom Urges AI Developers to Prioritize User Value Over Metrics

While Kevin Systrom did not single out any particular organization, his message was clear: AI developers should prioritize depth and accuracy in their outputs rather than fall into the trap of optimizing for daily active user numbers or time-on-app metrics.

“Teams should be laser-focused on building systems that genuinely help,” Systrom emphasized, cautioning against engagement for engagement’s sake.

In response to criticism, OpenAI pointed to its model specifications, which outline that its assistant might occasionally request clarification due to limited information. However, the same guidelines encourage the model to attempt a helpful answer where possible and inform the user if further input would improve accuracy.

As AI interfaces continue evolving, the discussion around AI chatbot engagement tactics is gaining traction—highlighting the need to balance intelligent design with responsible intent.

Get the Latest AI News on AI Content Minds Blog

Leave a Reply