Learn About Google Allo’s New Chatbot, Lucky

Google Voice had some issues that the company recently pledged to fix. However, Voice wasn’t the only platform that Google customers wanted to be updated. Google Allo, a smart messaging app that lets users doodle, send stickers, and communicate with emojis, hadn’t been as popular as expected. The new “Lucky” chatbot adds another feature to Allo, though: it sends you GIFs based on what you send it, perhaps with the goal of increasing Allo’s popularity. The following will discuss everything you should know about Allo’s new bot, and when you can expect to use it.

What does Lucky do?

Lucky sends GIFs to you based on what you type to the bot. For example, if you say “I love you,” the bot might respond with a GIF of hearts. If you text it “Hello,” the bot might respond with a Grizzly bear GIF that waves hello. Or, if you’re not sure what kind of GIF you want to see, you can type a phrase like “Let’s go” to see an entirely random GIF. Plus, Lucky is cute: it’s a little smiley face with its tongue sticking out.

Where does Lucky come from?

The Lucky bot was inspired by the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button on Google’s homepage that takes users to random webpages based on what they type into the search bar. Unlike Google Assistant or other helpful bots, the Lucky bot — like the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button itself — is just for fun.

How do I use Lucky?

First, you have to download Google Allo, the chat app on which Lucky resides. To talk with Lucky on Allo, you just have to type in @lucky followed by a phrase describing the GIF you want to see.

Can I start using Lucky now?

Maybe. Some Allo users have already started interacting with the Lucky bot, but the bot hasn’t been showing up on lots of platforms. Don’t give up on Lucky if it takes a while to process your request — sometimes, the bot can take a while to find your GIF. But, your best bet for getting to interact with Lucky when the bot is rolled out on a large scale is by downloading the latest version of Allo from the Google Play Store. Since Lucky hasn’t been rolled out everywhere yet, everyone is still curious about whether or not it’s a fun addition to Allo. We’ll have to wait to see how successful the bot is in the long run.

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