Introduction:

Silicon Valley, CA — Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom has raised concerns over the direction of artificial intelligence chatbot development, arguing that many companies are focusing more on boosting user engagement than delivering genuinely useful responses. Speaking at the StartupGrind conference, Systrom likened current AI strategies to the early days of social media, when platforms aggressively pushed for user interaction—often at the expense of user well-being.

Systrom criticized the design of many conversational AI tools, suggesting that developers are deliberately crafting responses and follow-up prompts that prolong user interaction rather than resolving inquiries efficiently. “This isn’t an accident,” he said. “It’s a feature, not a bug. The aim is to inflate metrics like time-on-platform and daily active users, not necessarily to serve users in the best way possible.”

He specifically pointed to the common practice of chatbots asking follow-up questions after a response, not to enhance clarity, but to keep users engaged. According to Systrom, this reflects a broader philosophical flaw in how AI companies are measuring success—through engagement metrics rather than usefulness or accuracy.

Although Systrom did not name any companies directly, his critique mirrors recent user feedback regarding ChatGPT, one of the most widely used AI tools. Some users have described the chatbot as overly polite, indirect, or even evasive, which can detract from the clarity and speed of responses. In a statement to TechCrunch, OpenAI acknowledged that such behaviors may stem from “short-term feedback loops” and pointed to its user guidelines, which explain that the model may sometimes seek clarification to ensure accurate answers.

Systrom’s remarks come at a time when the AI industry is under increasing scrutiny. As AI tools become more embedded in everyday life—from education and customer support to healthcare and finance—critics argue that their primary design goal should be to solve problems, not just retain users.

“We’ve seen this before with social media,” Systrom warned. “The race for engagement came with a cost. If AI companies don’t prioritize user value and transparency, we’re bound to repeat those same mistakes.”

The Instagram co-founder’s warning adds weight to a growing conversation among ethicists, developers, and users about the responsible development of AI. Many experts are now urging companies to recalibrate their models and training methods to promote clarity, accuracy, and user autonomy over attention-grabbing tactics.

conclusion:

As AI continues to evolve rapidly, Systrom’s call for quality over quantity may help guide the next phase of chatbot development—one that values genuine utility and trust over superficial interaction.