Meta launches generative AI assistant on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger

Social media giant Meta on Thursday introduced its first generative AI chatbots, also known as Meta AI, across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram.

"We're launching Meta AI! It's a new assistant you can talk to in WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram Direct and soon Quest 3. It can answer lots of questions with real-time info, generate photorealistic images, and more," says Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Meta.

According to the company, Meta AI is powered by a custom model that leverages technology from Meta’s Llama 2 and the latest large language model (LLM) research. In text-based chats, Meta AI has access to real-time information through search partnership with Bing and offers a tool for image generation, says the company.

Image Editing with AI

The company has also launched two new features i.e. restyle and backdrop for Instagram that can generate AI images and edit images using AI. This feature will be available in a month, says Zuckerberg. Both use the technology from Emu, the company’s foundational model for image generation.

"Restyle lets you reimagine your images by applying the visual styles you describe. Think of typing a descriptor like "watercolour" or a more detailed prompt like "collage from magazines and newspapers, torn edges" to describe the new look and feel of the image you want to create," says Meta.

AI Stickers

To make memes and stickers fun, the company has also introduced new AI stickers that use technology from Llama 2 and Llama 2. "This new feature, which is rolling out to select English-language users over the next month in WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook Stories, provides infinitely more options to convey how you’re feeling at any moment. AI stickers will roll out to select English language users over the next month," says the company.

Apart from this, the company also introduced AI chatbots with expertise in cooking, cooking, fitness, travel, fashion, sports, writing, and games, amongst others.

Meanwhile, to give consumers the AI universe, the company has partnered with cultural icons and influencers such as Kendall Jenner, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, and Naomi Osaka, amongst others, to embody and play AI characters. "Along with Meta AI, there are 28 more AIs that you can message on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. You can think of these AIs as a new cast of characters – all with unique backstories," says the company.

"We're going to start rolling these out in beta in the United States today. We’ll add new characters in the coming weeks played by Bear Grylls, Chloe Kim, and Josh Richards among others," it adds.