With just a few word prompts, Meta AI can provide you with real-time information and quickly create lifelike photos that you can share with your friends.
Highlights:
- Meta is rolling out its AI chatbot to selective users in India and Africa through WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
- Meta AI was released in beta around September last year, but until now it has lagged in the Generative AI competition.
- The move marks a strategy to increase their outreach and retain users.
What We Know About Meta’s AI Chatbot
Meta is testing its AI chatbot on WhatsApp and several other social media platforms such as Instagram and Messenger. The large language model is being tested and rolled out through these platforms to selective users in India and Africa currently.
Meta' Ai is here in WhatsApp!
— Mohit Peshaneᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@MohitPeshane) April 11, 2024
Anyone else also the access? pic.twitter.com/MwPcvJOoZL
This recent action demonstrates the intention to scale its AI offerings by reaching out to large user bases across all of its products. Following major AI initiatives from other large tech companies, OpenAI, and others, Meta has been rushing to launch additional AI services.
Meta AI is a novel assistant that users can communicate with, in a human-like manner. Llama-2 and Meta’s unique model fuel it. The AI assistant allows users to ask questions, just as the majority of generative AI chatbots. It can answer user inquiries and is powered by Bing Search.
It is also designed to produce photorealistic images from the user’s text-based prompts. It also has access to real-time information thanks to Bing Search. Here’s an example of how you can use the Chatbot:
“Imagine you and your friends are in a group chat discussing which trailhead to try in Santa Cruz. Meta AI surfaces options directly in the chat, so you can decide as a group which location to explore. What if after the hike you want a creative way to commemorate the day? Meta AI can help. Type “@MetaAI /imagine” followed by a descriptive text prompt like “create a button badge with a hiker and redwood trees,” and it will create a digital merit badge in the chat with your friends.”
Meta’s official blog
Apart from Meta AI, they also released 28 more AIs in beta, with unique interests and personalities. Some are played by cultural icons and influencers, including Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner, and Naomi Osaka. You can think of these AIs as a new cast of characters – all with unique backstories. Here are some of the AIs mentioned:
- Charli D’Amelio as Coco, a Dance enthusiast
- Chris Paul as Perry, a Pro golfer helping you perfect your stroke
- Dwyane Wade as Victor, an Ironman triathlete motivating you to be your best self
- Izzy Adesanya as Luiz, a Showy MMA prospect who can back up his trash talk
- Kendall Jenner as Billie, No-BS, ride-or-die companion
- LaurDIY as Dylan, Quirky DIY and Craft expert and companion for Gen Z
- MrBeast as Zach, The big brother who will roast you — because he cares
- Naomi Osaka as Tamika, Anime-obsessed Sailor Senshi in training
- Paris Hilton as Amber, Detective partner for solving whodunnits
- Raven Ross as Angie, a Workout class queen who balances fitness with meditation
- Roy Choi as Max, Seasoned sous chef for culinary tips and tricks
- Sam Kerr as Sally, Free-spirited friend who’ll tell you when to take a deep breath
- Snoop Dogg as Dungeon Master, Adventure awaits, begin your next great story
- Tom Brady as Bru, a Wisecracking sports debater who pulls no punches
The disadvantage is that, except for Meta AI, Bru, and Perry, their knowledge base is restricted to data that was mostly created before 2023, therefore some of the answers may be out of date.
How is Meta Testing It?
In India, Meta is testing the Meta AI chatbot functionality on WhatsApp in a limited rollout.
Certain users in India can now utilize the Meta AI chatbot, according to a report from WABetainfo, a platform that keeps track of forthcoming features in WhatsApp.
The report also claims that WhatsApp is presently testing the feature in two different methods. First, just a few specific countries will be able to use it in WhatsApp’s search box. They have conveniently placed the chatbot at the top app bar for users in India.
Users’ search terms will stay private and not be shared with Meta AI. The data is kept secret unless and until a user sends the chatbot a request.
Additionally, the AI chatbot might recommend some conversational subjects, but it won’t be impacted by what people search for on WhatsApp.
India is a crucial market for the business because it has more than 500 million Facebook and WhatsApp users, making it Meta’s largest single market.
Facebook is also aiming to test out more services to engage audiences in developing regions, where smartphone users are increasing more quickly than in established areas like the US, where growth has peaked.
Why is Meta planning this strategy?
When it comes to developing and providing its users with AI technologies, Meta has lagged behind the competition. Its team believed that generative AI technology was still far off from being ready for widespread use. OpenAI placed MetaAI on the defensive by amply demonstrating how incorrect they were in this thought.
Anthropic’s Claude 3 and Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro have also raced far ahead in the generative AI market leaving Facebook’s parent company behind.
This is why Meta is making this move right now to increase its outreach in the Gen AI market. It plans to slowly make its chatbot accessible but on a widespread scale, unlike the others, thanks to its ownership of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
And Meta is currently doing just that. However, there are two more practical reasons why they might be moving forward with its AI plan.
First and the most obvious reason is user retention. The company wants to retain users across its widespread social media platforms and nowadays every user expects an AI chatbot in almost every application they operate with. So, they are offering AI chatbot access to its users on social media.
Second, for investor retention. While investors in tech desire robust earnings, they also want to see indications that the company is dedicated to developing and supporting what many anticipate will be the next wave of computing.
Conclusion
Indeed, Meta has a very special chance to grow its AI capabilities given the enormous worldwide user bases of Instagram and WhatsApp, which boast billions of monthly active users.
