In the world of Big Tech, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have been making waves. OpenAI pioneered the trend with ChatGPT, Microsoft followed suit with Bing chatbot, and Google recently released Bard and Project Magi.
But where does Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stand in this race?
Meta has been quietly working on AI chatbots for some time now, releasing relevant research like the Internet-enabled BlenderBot 3.
In the latest quarterly investor call, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg talked about the company’s plans for AI and its vision for the future of technology.
The First Wave: AI Today
According to Zuckerberg, AI is already being used extensively by Meta. For example, 40% of what is recommended on Instagram is powered by AI.
The company is also using AI to optimize monetizing content on its social networks. But the real potential of AI lies in chat experiences.
Zuckerberg believes that there is an opportunity to introduce AI agents to billions of people in ways that will be useful and meaningful.
He specifically mentioned chat experiences in WhatsApp and Messenger, where the company plans to develop generative foundational models that open up entirely new classes of products and experiences.
The Second Wave: The Metaverse
Zuckerberg’s talk didn’t stop at AI chatbots for messaging apps. He also spoke about the company’s plans for the Metaverse, which he believes is the second major technological wave.
The Metaverse is a shared virtual space where people can interact with each other and digital objects in a seemingly real environment.
Meta has been focused on the Metaverse for years, and Zuckerberg refutes rumors that the company has put its plans on hold.
He believes that the Metaverse and AI technologies feed off each other and that the company’s AI advancements will be crucial for creating a seamless virtual world.
Meta’s Advantages in the AI Chatbot Race
Meta has some advantages in the AI chatbot race. With billions of active users on WhatsApp and Messenger, the company already has a large user base that is accustomed to chat experiences. This makes it easier for Meta to introduce new chatbot features that can compete with Google’s search business.
In addition, Meta has already cleared the hurdle of getting its chatbots installed as smartphone apps, something that Microsoft’s Bing chatbot still struggles with.
Moreover, Meta has unveiled a chatbot that can create a virtual environment by voice command and a universal translator to overcome language barriers in the Metaverse.
In February, Zuckerberg also announced the creation of a “high-profile product group” for generative AI.
Meta plans to introduce AI agents to billions of people through chat experiences in WhatsApp and Messenger. They hope to offer useful and meaningful chatbots for business messaging and customer support, and eventually extend this technology to the metaverse.
OpenAI started the chatbot trend with ChatGPT, Microsoft has Bing chatbot, and Google has Bard and Project Magi. Meta has kept a relatively low profile in the chatbot space, but they are well-positioned with billions of active users on WhatsApp and Messenger.
Meta has AI in place for content recommendations on platforms like Instagram. They have also released research on the BlenderBot 3, a chatbot capable of more complex conversations. Meta has also developed chatbots that can create virtual environments and overcome language barriers in the metaverse.
The metaverse is a virtual reality space where people can interact with each other and digital objects. Meta is focused on developing AI and the metaverse, two technologies that feed off each other. They hope to extend their chatbot technology to the metaverse in the future.
Meta plans to develop generative foundational models that open up entirely new classes of products and experiences. They have created a high-profile product group for generative AI, which will likely focus on developing these models.
Conclusion
Meta’s AI chatbots for WhatsApp and Messenger could be a game-changer, allowing billions of people to experience chat experiences in new and meaningful ways. With its focus on the Metaverse and AI technologies, Meta is well-positioned to compete with other Big Tech companies in the AI chatbot race.
As the company continues to develop new chatbot features and generative AI models, we can expect to see exciting new products and experiences in the coming years.
