This Bot Can Tell You What That Weird Object Is

Today in fun things to do when you're busy wasting time at work, there is now a Facebook Messenger bot that identifies objects in photos. The bot belongs to a page called WTF Is That?, which makes sense, considering how often we come across something in the middle of the day and wonder WTF it is — and I don't think I'm the only one who's going to have a lot of fun with it.

Anyway, here's the deal: All you have to do is go to the WTF Is That? page and send them a message. The friendly bot says hello and tells you to send it whatever picture your heart desires. Then, within a few minutes, the bot identifies the object in the picture. It can even provide possible brand names.

Now, this bot likely has its limits; for example, I perhaps started off with higher expectations than I should have and sent it a picture of a tomato chunk from my lunch. The bot's response? "Your image is a red and white surface." To be fair, it wasn't wrong... it just wasn't exactly right, either. So I started from the beginning. I looked around my apartment for potential test objects and settled on a colorful whisk I just purchased online. If you want to try this out yourself, here's how it works.

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First, grab your phone and go to the WTF Is That? Facebook page.

Click on "Send message" and be welcomed with a warm and fuzzy greeting.

I sent the picture of my beautiful whisk. Seriously, that's a nice whisk.

The bot notifies me that it's currently working on my image. Moments later...

I know. I know. It's mind-blowing. Not only did the bot know that it was a whisk, but it even specified the color. I'm half-surprised it didn't also pick up the carpet stains in the background.

So, it's a cool little invention to help pass the time. Good for teal whisks. Bad for tomato chunks (although in its defense, the bot wasn't technically wrong about that one...).

Images: Jan Kruger/Getty Images; Megan Grant/Bustle (3)