In a bid to expand its technological horizons and keep pace with the ever-evolving AI landscape, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed Meta AI, an AI-powered assistant set to take on the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The announcement came at the Meta Connect event held on September 27, where Zuckerberg showcased the capabilities of this new AI assistant, which is slated to integrate seamlessly with Meta’s extensive ecosystem, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and eventually its mixed reality devices.
Meta AI’s initial rollout will be limited to a select group of users based in the United States, commencing on September 27. Powered by Meta’s impressive large language model, Llama 2, this AI assistant is the product of a partnership with Microsoft Bing, aiming to provide users with real-time access to internet-based information.
“Meta AI is your basic assistant that you can talk to like a person,” Zuckerberg explained during the event, emphasizing its user-friendly conversational nature.
One of Meta AI’s standout features is its ability to generate images, made possible by a cutting-edge image generation tool called Emu. This tool was trained on an extensive dataset of 1.1 billion pieces of data, including user-shared photos and captions from the Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram. This image generation capability sets Meta AI apart from its competitor, ChatGPT.
Crucially, Meta has adopted a different strategy than other AI developers like OpenAI, aiming to create specialized AI products tailored to distinct use cases rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta’s chatbots are designed not only to provide information but also to be engaging and entertaining in conversations.
To demonstrate the entertainment-focused aspect of their AI products, Meta unveiled a collection of chatbots inspired by approximately 30 celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, and former NFL player Tom Brady.
Starting from September 27, Meta AI will be available to a limited group of users in the United States across Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Additionally, the AI assistant will be accessible to users of Meta’s new smart glasses, set for release on October 17 for U.S. consumers, and the forthcoming Quest 3 VR device.
Meta AI represents a significant step forward in Meta’s ongoing efforts to redefine the boundaries of AI-powered assistants, offering both utility and entertainment in an interconnected metaverse. As the technology continues to mature, the competition between Meta AI and established players like ChatGPT is sure to drive innovation in this ever-expanding field.
