Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) took center stage at Snapchat’s Partner Summit that was held on April 19.

Here’s a briefing of the biggest announcements:

• My AI updates: The chatbot is now available to all global users and not only Plus subscribers. Other updates include different customizations of the purple avatar, chat integrations, as well as image generation abilities. 
• Stories Revenue Share Program: Snapchat’s Story monetization program is getting expanded to more users. However, strict eligibility criteria apply; such as having +50,000 followers, as well as 25 million views on published content or 12,000 hours of cumulative watch time.
• Fun ways to reminisce: Snapchat also announced an update to Memories, called Friendship Flashbacks, which pulls up fun Snaps you’ve exchanged with your friends and re-shares them at the top of group chats.
• Snap Map tweaks: Live Location details no longer have an expiry time. Also, Snap Map will start incorporating Popular Last Night tags to mark your friends’ recent hangout places.
• Bringing AR in-store: Snapchat is working on placing AR mirrors inside big retailer stores, allowing shoppers to see how clothes look on them instead of tirelessly changing outfits.
• Two new Story modes: Community Stories allow you to interact with your schoolmates for a fun academic experience, while After Dark Stories can only be shared after 8 p.m. and will bear a distinctive moon badge.
• More generative AI lenses: Snapchat is developing more AI-generated Lenses, starting off with the Cosmic Lens that transforms you into an animated sci-fi movie character. There are plans for even more interactive Stories that engage users in puzzles and games while video calling their friends.

You can read more here!