Meta, formerly known as Facebook, unveiled its latest developments in generative AI technologies for its consumer products at the Meta this week event. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced several AI technologies that are currently in development, including AI chatbots for Messenger and WhatsApp, AI stickers, and tools for photo editing in Instagram Stories. These innovations aim to enhance user experiences across Meta’s platforms.
During the event, Zuckerberg highlighted Meta’s commitment to exploring new AI technologies and their potential applications in reaching billions of users worldwide. The company plans to host an internal AI hackathon in July, focusing on generative AI, which could result in the creation of new AI products for Meta’s users.
The announcement follows Zuckerberg’s previous remarks during Meta’s Q1 earnings call, where he hinted at the exploration of “chat experiences” for Messenger and WhatsApp, as well as visual creation tools for Facebook and Instagram posts.
One notable development mentioned was Meta’s AI chatbots, known as AI agents, which would enable users to interact with AI personas with unique skills and personalities. This aligns with the growing demand for AI chatbot applications, as seen by the success of apps like Character.AI, which gained over 1.7 million installs within a week.
Meta intends to release its AI agents initially on Messenger and WhatsApp but envisions expanding them across its family of applications and eventually integrating them with smart glasses, similar to Ray-Ban Stories. These smart glasses would allow users to interact with the AI agents using voice commands, enhancing the convenience and accessibility of the technology.
Additionally, Meta is exploring AI capabilities for modifying and enhancing user-generated content. Users will be able to engage with a text prompt to modify their own photos for sharing on Instagram Stories. The company plans to introduce AI stickers in Messenger, generated from text prompts, further enhancing the visual elements of conversations.
Meta’s generative AI technologies extend beyond consumer-facing tools. The company showcased an experimental internal interface called the “agents playground,” powered by its large language model LLaMA. This interface allows Meta employees to engage in conversations with AI agents, providing valuable feedback for system improvement. Furthermore, Meta utilizes MetaGen, which offers APIs for text and image generation models, and Metamate, an internal productivity assistant that assists employees in various tasks based on text prompts.
Meta confirmed that the initial consumer-facing AI tools will be launched this year, likely within the next few months. Zuckerberg emphasized Meta’s commitment to bringing these innovative capabilities to billions of users and their unique role in the industry.
With these advancements in generative AI, Meta aims to revolutionize user experiences across its platforms and play a pivotal role in the widespread adoption of AI technologies.
