TikTok has filed a Trademark Application in May with the US Patent and Trademark office for the name “Genie” for an AI chatbot software.
💭What does this mean for UK businesses?
This signals TikTok’s intent to further integrate advanced AI functionalities into its platform further driving engagement and product sales through TikTok.
Below is more information about what Genie is and ways we believe all UK businesses can utilise AI to stay with the growth curve of companies like TikTok.
💬What’s Genie?
According to the trademark filing, the Genie chatbot will simulate conversations, facilitate interactions between humans and AI, and generate human-like speech and text. This development aligns with TikTok’s ongoing efforts to enhance user experience through AI-driven innovations.
💡Our thoughts for UK Businesses…
AI chatbots once sounded like science fiction but quickly gained traction around the world with large corporates and tech companies investing millions in developing AI systems that are easy to use.
There are literally hundreds of affordable AI solutions available to businesses today, so there is no reason to let companies like TikTok be the only ones benefitting from AI tech.
🚀TikTok’s AI Evolution
Owned by ByteDance, TikTok is renowned for its powerful AI algorithm that drives the app’s viral content. The company has been experimenting with generative AI tools, including testing an AI recommendation chatbot named Tako in 2023, which could suggest videos based on user requests. Additionally, TikTok has utilised OpenAI’s code to develop its own large language models, expanding its AI capabilities further.
🌍Our thoughts for UK Businesses…
The great thing about now is that other businesses have spent all the money on the research and development for us, however not every business has yet made the change.
If your competitors are using AI then you should jump on board or risk being left behind.
If they aren’t then you could be looking at the biggest opportunity, you will ever have to steal a market advantage.
🔧Recent AI Advancements
Earlier this month, TikTok introduced new AI features for its ad services, such as digital avatars and AI dubbing. However, the Genie trademark filing suggests that TikTok is venturing into creating a more sophisticated chatbot that surpasses basic search recommendations.
📈Our thoughts for UK Businesses…
Whether you have a product or service, this type of intelligent search tool could mean that clients who don’t even know they need you could find you.
⚖️Context and Challenges
This strategic move comes amidst significant challenges for TikTok. Facing the possibility of being divested from its parent company or banned in early 2025 due to national security concerns raised by the Biden administration, TikTok is currently contesting these measures in court, arguing that they are unconstitutional and infringe upon First Amendment rights.
📊Our thoughts for UK Businesses…
After a shaky start we believe that TikTok is here to stay. The TikTok shop alone intends to breach 15 million dollars in turnover in 2024.
📝Conclusion
TikTok’s trademark filing for Genie highlights the company’s commitment to leveraging AI to enhance user interaction and communication on its platform.
If we presume thatTikTok will overcome its legal challenges with its focus on innovation promising exciting advancements for its users, we believe this platform will continue to go from strength to strength.
📣Our advice for UK Businesses…
If you don’t have a presence on TikTok then start releasing content today.
Look at how similar companies are leveraging TikTok to attract more clients and revenue.
If you want to be on TikTok, Amazon, Instagram or anywhere online, make sure you have your brand Trademarked.
Want some guidance on how you can integrate AI into your business? Click here for an article about AI from our Founder & CEO.
Questions about this
What did TikTok apply to trademark in the US for its AI chatbot?
TikTok filed a trademark application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for the name Genie, covering AI chatbot software. According to the filing, the chatbot is designed to simulate conversations, facilitate interactions between people and AI, and generate human-like speech and text. It signalled TikTok’s intention to build more advanced AI features into its platform, going beyond its earlier experiments with recommendation chatbots.
Answered by Saad Ashraf, Marketing ManagerWhat can a trademark application reveal about a company’s plans?
Quite a lot. Applications are public and list the goods or services the name is intended for, so a filing can show the direction a business is heading before anything launches. TikTok’s Genie application, for example, described chatbot software that simulates conversation, pointing clearly to its AI ambitions. Watching competitors’ filings is a practical way to spot new products, and potential conflicts with your own brand, early.
Answered by Saad Ashraf, Marketing ManagerDo I need a trademark to protect my brand on TikTok Shop or Amazon?
A registration makes a real difference. Marketplace brand programmes, including Amazon Brand Registry, generally want a registered trademark in the territory concerned, and platforms act much faster on complaints from businesses that can prove ownership. Whether you sell on TikTok, Amazon, Instagram or elsewhere online, registering the brand first puts you in a far stronger position to deal with copycats and lookalike listings.
Answered by Saad Ashraf, Marketing Manager
