During his keynote speech at the annual Meta Connect conference, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Meta is set to introduce significant AI enhancements to its applications and devices. This includes popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, with the aim of integrating “state-of-the-art AI into the apps that billions of people use.”
The new AI experiences and features will provide personalized implementations for various tasks, as Zuckerberg explained: “different AIs for different things.” Some of the notable updates include:
- A beta rollout of an “advanced conversational assistant” available on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Additionally, this feature will be compatible with the soon-to-be-released Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Quest 3.
- In partnership with Microsoft Bing, Meta AI will offer real-time information to users in the United States. Furthermore, a new image model called Emu (Expressive Media Universe) will enable image generation capabilities.
- Meta AI leverages technology from Meta’s open source LLM and Llama 2, providing a powerful custom model.
Meta also introduced 28 beta AIs with unique interests and personalities, some of which are portrayed by famous cultural icons and influencers like Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner, and Naomi Osaka. These AIs are presented as a “new cast of characters” with intriguing backstories.
Additionally, Meta unveiled the AI Studio platform, allowing businesses to develop AI chatbots for Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. In the near future, Meta plans to launch a sandbox tool that will empower anyone to experiment with creating their own AI.
Instagram will soon offer users the ability to edit images and collaborate with friends using new AI editing tools, including restyling and backdrop features. Powered by Llama 2 and the Emu image generation model, these tools convert text prompts into stickers in a matter of seconds. The feature will initially roll out to select English-language users in WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook Stories over the next month.
Furthermore, Meta AI can be interacted with by saying “Hey Meta,” providing users with the ability to spark creativity, obtain information, and control their glasses through voice commands. The Meta glasses collection will launch on October 17, starting at a price of $299 USD, and can be pre-ordered today.
Zuckerberg acknowledged that the Meta AI product launches are still in their early stages, emphasizing their limitations and the need for improvement based on user feedback. He highlighted the importance of gathering more insights and refining the offerings to provide enhanced experiences.
