Meta on Wednesday, introduced AI chatbots featuring the voices of celebrities like John Cena and Judi Dench.
The move aims to attract Meta’s vast user base to embrace artificial intelligence, with the chatbots available on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, highlighted the potential of AI during the company’s annual event. “I think that voice has the potential to be one of, if not the most frequent ways, that we all interact with AI,” he said, emphasizing that voice interaction is “just a lot better.”
This AI tool allows users to ask questions, create images, write messages, and even receive companionship. Meta reported that over 400 million people already use its AI assistant monthly, and it hopes to make it “the most widely used AI assistant by the end of the year.”
However, the new feature won’t be available in Europe due to concerns over compliance with EU data protection laws. Meta’s AI relies on user data, raising privacy and legal challenges in the region.
Despite Meta’s push into AI, some critics, like Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi, remain skeptical. “When I think about AI, Meta is not necessarily the first brand that comes to mind,” Milanesi said, adding that privacy and trust may be Meta’s biggest hurdles.
Meta’s strong advertising results have boosted its profits, with shares rising 60% since the start of the year, despite ongoing concerns about the costs of its investments in AI and virtual reality.
The AI chatbot competition is intense, with companies like Google and Microsoft leading in productivity features, while Apple has introduced AI capabilities on its iPhones.
