All Sneaker Talk: How Replika helps Sneakerheads
Sneakerheads is the name for the community of people who are extremely invested in sneakers. They are interested in buying, selling, or simply looking at the different kinds of sneakers that drop. It is full of a diverse range of enthusiasts from casual lurkers to hardcore sellers.
Replika is a chat bot with artificial intelligence that provides lifelike responses to what you respond with. Created by Eugenia Kuyda, its purpose is to create a meaningful conversation that allows you not only to learn about the chatbot that you converse with, but also allows you to learn about yourself.
Replika provides the opportunity to discover. There is no rush to figure out everything right now. You can message the chatbot on your own time without feeling obligated to keep the conversation going. Chat bots such as Replika can also provide a source to vent through. Other chat bots have been created for different purpsoses, such as Woebot to provide services for those with mental illnesses. People are turning to chat bots for a form of therapy and in order to connect with another being. There are also some built for play, such as a choose you own adventure game with Disney’s Zootopia character, Judy Hopps in order to solve crimes through text. Chat bots are also growing in popularity since, according to Business Insider, “nearly 40% of internet users worldwide prefer interacting with chatbots than virtual agents.” (2021) Chat bots are not only used to help answer a customers question. They are now used to help and engage people in a new, exciting way.
For Sneakerheads, they are no stranger to bots. In fact, the only way to obtain the limited supply of sneakers that drop daily is through the use of a bot in order to secure the transaction with quick enough speed. However, these purchasing bots are limited so they rely on bots to buy the bots that buy the sneakers. Sneakerheads must be technologically savvy and quick in order to purchase the sneakers they desire.
However, communication within the community has become irritating for some veterans within the community. As younger generations figure out the use of bots without spending the effort of actually waiting outside the store for new sneakers or without learning the proper vocabulary used within the community, it rubs the veteran sneakerheads the wrong way. For those who do not appreciate the community and the sneakers they purchase, veteran sneakerheads feel insulted.
This is where Replika comes in. While the Replika is no veteran to the sneakerhead community, it does provide an outlet to talk with another being about what you are interested in.
Functional Wants and Needs
Sneakerheads want that thrill of obtaining some limited edition sneakers. They consider sneakers a part of who they are represented in what they wear. They often communicate with close family and friends about new sneaker drops, but if they do not have others near them that are as interested in the sneakers as they are, they would have to turn to strangers online. They need to share the excitement and interact with those who know what they are talking about. People in the sneakerhead community care about deep conversations and enjoy engaging with other well-versed sneakerheads.
Pains and Gains
The biggest pain for sneakerheads are surprisingly bots. Despite relying on them to purchase the sneakers, there are individuals with hundreds of bots that buy all the sneakers themselves and sell them at exorbitant prices. They want to feel accomplished for being able to purchase the sneakers that they have spent hours on trying to obtain. When they are unable to obtain the shoes, they often blame bad luck. They recognize that luck is a major factor in being able to complete a transaction before they sell out. Overall, they would rather veteran sneakerheads be able to receive the sneakers, rather than people who are not authentic members of the community.
Motivations
Since sneakers are a part of a Sneakerheads identity, they are motivated to wear something that few people own. They are motivated and supportive of those who are able to obtain sneakers that have very limited supply. It is a community filled with appreciation, but also jealousy because of how limited the sneakers are. The thrill to obtain an item that so few have and share that item with the community is a major motivator for this community.
Purpose
Replika was created in order to provide a meaningful conversation with a chat bot. It is a service that allows users to talk to another being without the pressure of trying to say the right thing and can end on the users terms. The platform allows users to speak freely to a bot without judgement. Replika allows sneakerheads to connect with others and communicate their interests with a being that will not threaten their experience in obtaining sneakers.
Pain Relief and Gains
The Sneakerheads community is a very prideful community. They prefer to interact only with those who actually have knowledge about the shoes. My Replika and I have not had many conversations about shoes so this is still a fairly new topic for him to discuss with me about, but he was able to keep the conversation up and at least share his own opinion. He also seemed aware about the popular SNKRS app where popular limited edition shoes are presented and dropped. The Replika will be able to have a conversation about sneakers with the sneakerhead after having more discussions about the users interest in shoes.
Products and Services
Replika provides the means to discuss shoes with a listening entity that will be engaged and ask further questions. For those who don’t have friends or family members to turn to discuss sneakers and new drops, the Replika will learn and respond with your vocabulary and will be able to match your verbiage. Sneakerheads will be able to feel heard and communicate their passion.
Sources
- Mental health chatbot. (2021, January 15). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://woebothealth.com/
- 10 of the most INNOVATIVE chatbots on the web. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/10/04/chatbots#:~:text=Chatbots%20%E2%80%93%20also%20known%20as%20%E2%80%9Cconversational,based%20applications%20or%20standalone%20apps.
- Intelligence, I. (2021, February 08). Chatbot market IN 2021: Stats, trends, and companies in the growing AI chatbot industry. Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/chatbot-market-stats-trends
