Mark Zuckerberg: AI will be built into all of Meta’s products

 

During an internal company meeting, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the extent of the company's investments in AI. The meeting covered discussions about new products, including chatbots for Messenger and WhatsApp that can engage in conversations with different personas. Meta also announced new features for Instagram, such as the ability to modify user photos using text prompts and create emoji stickers for messaging services.

These developments are crucial for Meta as the company has faced financial challenges and an identity crisis in recent years. Meta received criticism from investors for prioritizing its metaverse ambitions over AI. To address this, Meta is now focusing on AI tools, following the footsteps of competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Snapchat, who have gained investor attention with their generative AI products. However, Meta has yet to release any consumer-facing generative AI products.

To bridge this gap, Meta has been restructuring its AI divisions and making significant investments in infrastructure to support its AI product needs. Zuckerberg expressed optimism about the advancements in generative AI, stating that it can be integrated into "every single one" of Meta's products. This indicates Meta's intention to leverage AI across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

In addition to consumer-facing tools, Meta announced a productivity assistant called Metamate for its employees. This assistant is designed to answer queries and perform tasks based on internal company information.

Meta is also exploring open-source models, allowing users to build their own AI-powered chatbots and technologies. However, concerns have been raised by critics and competitors about the potential misuse of these tools for spreading misinformation and hate speech on a larger scale.

Zuckerberg addressed these concerns during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of democratizing access to AI. He expressed hope that users would be able to develop AI programs independently in the future, without relying solely on frameworks provided by a few large technology companies.

Despite the increased focus on AI, Zuckerberg reassured employees that Meta would not abandon its plans for the metaverse. Both AI and the metaverse will remain key areas of focus for the company.

The success of these endeavors will determine whether Meta can catch up with its competitors and solidify its position among the leading tech companies in the rapidly-evolving landscape.