Snapchat launches AI Sponsored Snaps, turning brand chatbots into conversational sales agents

Snapchat brings AI-powered conversational advertising to its app | TechCrunch

Snapchat announced on Tuesday that it's rolling out "AI Sponsored Snaps," which will allow users to interact directly with brands' AI agents. Sponsored Snaps are the ads placed directly into the app's main Chat tab. Until now, users couldn't interact with these ads, but with the launch of AI Sponsored Ads, they'll be able to do things like ask questions and get recommendations. Of course, not everyone will be on board with AI-sponsored ads, as they introduce AI into yet another part of the Snapchat experience. Plus, not everyone is eager for more advanced advertising. However, Snapchat said in a blog post that its "community isn't just open to AI in conversation, they're already embracing it," given that over half a billion users have messaged its AI chatbot since it launched in 2023. "Conversation is becoming the most valuable real estate in advertising," said Ajit Mohan, Chief Business Officer at Snap, in the blog post. "AI is accelerating that shift, turning chat into the place where people discover products, ask questions, and make decisions in real time. The real opportunity isn't just putting ads into those environments, it's designing formats that feel native to how people already talk." For brands, the new AI Sponsored Snaps give them access to Snapchat's nearly one billion monthly active users. They can bring their own AI agents onto the platform to drive engagement and purchases. Snapchat says the new format builds on the momentum of Sponsored Snaps, which already drive 22% more conversions with nearly 20% lower cost per action. With the new format, they can engage users through personalized, AI-powered interactions right where they're already having conversations. The company says 85% of users engage regularly in the Chat feed, and that users sent over 950 billion chats in Q1 2026 alone. Additionally, 57% of teen Snapchat users message others daily, including 4 in 10 who do so several times a day.

Snapchat is rolling out sponsored AI agents

It was only a matter of time before they found a way to use AI agents as corporate shills. On Tuesday, Snapchat rolled out AI Sponsored Snaps, a "new way for brands to show up in Chat through AI agents." Or, put another way, it's conversational advertising. (Yay?) AI Sponsored Snaps will appear in the app's Chat tab (with a light gray "Ad" notation next to the brand name). After opening the chat, you can ask the agent questions about the brand it represents. Snap showed an example from its first partner for the initiative, Experian. The bot offers to answer your questions on saving money, improving your credit score and -- there it is -- exploring loans and credit cards. Whether through credit card offers or other means, the AI agent will presumably try to guide you toward behavior that makes money for the sponsor. So, it isn't clear why this would be better for consumers than asking a general-purpose chatbot like Gemini or Claude the same questions. Maybe the answer is as simple as, "It isn't... but they know people will use it anyway." "Conversation is becoming the most valuable real estate in advertising," Snap's Chief Business Officer, Ajit Mohan, wrote in a press release. "AI is accelerating that shift, turning chat into the place where people discover products, ask questions, and make decisions in real time. The real opportunity isn't just putting ads into those environments, it's designing formats that feel native to how people already talk." Snap says more than half a billion people have messaged its My AI feature since it launched three years ago. That was despite a shaky start, where the bot told researchers and journalists posing as young teenagers how to mask the smell of alcohol or cannabis and set the mood for sex.

Snapchat brings AI ads into chats as conversations turn commercial

The update builds on how users already behave on the platform. Snapchat reported more than 950 billion chats in the first quarter of 2026. It also said over 500 million users have interacted with its My AI chatbot since launch. Snapchat is positioning Chat as the center of both communication and discovery. The company aims to make advertising feel native to conversations instead of disruptive. AI Sponsored Snaps will appear directly within Chat threads, where users already spend time. Users can interact with AI agents to explore products, ask questions, and receive recommendations. These interactions happen without leaving the conversation interface. The company says this design improves usability and keeps engagement high. Snap Inc. believes conversational AI will reshape how brands connect with audiences. The company sees chat-based engagement as more immediate and actionable than traditional formats. It also expects stronger intent signals from users who actively engage with AI. "Conversation is becoming the most valuable real estate in advertising. AI is accelerating that shift, turning chat into the place where people discover products, ask questions, and make decisions in real time. The real opportunity isn't just putting ads into those environments, it's designing formats that feel native to how people already talk."

Snapchat's new ad format makes AI chatbots sound like salespeople

Snapchat is letting brand sponsored chatbots move into the Chat tab AI chatbots have spent the past few years handling refunds, tracking orders, resetting passwords, answering banking questions, booking appointments, and helping brands trim support teams. Now, Snapchat's AI Sponsored Snaps suggest their next stop could be sales. Snap has introduced AI Sponsored Snaps, a new ad format that brings brand-run AI agents into Snapchat Chat. Users can open these ads, ask questions, get suggestions, explore services, and move toward actions such as app installs or purchases without leaving the conversation. Recommended Videos For the alpha phase, Snap has partnered with Experian. Its AI Sponsored Snap appears in the Chat tab and opens into a branded screen where users can ask about credit scores, loans, credit cards, and spending habits. Experian's AI agent then replies like a normal chat, except the conversation is clearly built to guide users toward a brand's services. Are ads becoming sales agents now? This is where things get a little less cheerful. AI chatbots have already shown companies how much work can be moved away from human support teams. AI Sponsored Snaps take that same idea and brings it closer to the sales funnel. These chats are not just answering random questions. They are meant to help people discover products, understand services, get personalized recommendations, and move closer to a purchase. That sounds a lot like the job of a sales employee, especially in businesses where selling already happens through chats, calls, and guided product explainers. Could sales teams be next in line? Ajit Mohan, Snap's Chief Business Officer, said conversation is becoming "the most valuable real estate in advertising," with AI helping people discover products and make decisions in real time. That line says a lot about where this is going. Users who want quick answers may find this useful, but workers may see a less cozy picture. AI Sponsored Snaps may start as an ad format, although the work looks familiar. They talk to customers, clear doubts, offer suggestions, and guide people toward buying. Customer support has already faced this shift. Sales could be next.

Snapchat rolls out AI Sponsored Snaps for conversational ads in Chat

Snapchat has announced a new advertising format called AI Sponsored Snaps, designed to enable brands to interact with users through AI within Chat, which remains a core part of the platform. The company reported that users sent over 950 billion messages in Q1 2026, while more than 500 million users have interacted with My AI since its launch, indicating growing use of AI in conversations. Snapchat is positioning AI within existing conversations rather than as a separate tool. With AI Sponsored Snaps, AI interactions are placed directly inside Chat, where users already communicate. AI Sponsored Snaps allow brands to appear in Chat through AI agents that users can interact with directly. These interactions take place within the chat interface. Snapchat states that its existing Sponsored Snaps format delivers: The new format also provides access to Snapchat's nearly one billion monthly active users. Speaking on the launch, Ajit Mohan, Chief Business Officer at Snap Inc., said: Conversation is becoming the most valuable real estate in advertising. AI is accelerating that shift, turning chat into the place where people discover products, ask questions, and make decisions in real time. The real opportunity isn't just putting ads into those environments, it's designing formats that feel native to how people already talk. That's what AI Sponsored Snaps are about - pairing the scale of nearly a billion monthly users with AI-powered conversations that drive real engagement and action. Commenting on the collaboration, Steve Hartmann, Head of Integrated Marketing at Experian, said: