Financial Times reported today that Meta is preparing to launch a range of AI-powered chatbots with distinct personalities as soon as September.
According to sources familiar with the plans, Meta is developing prototype chatbots capable of engaging in human-like conversations with users, aiming to enhance interaction within its social media platforms.
The report also mentioned that the American social media giant is exploring the launch of chatbots with famous historical figures, such as former US President Abraham Lincoln, and others that offer travel advice in a surfer style, these chatbots aim to provide a new search function and recommendations.
This report comes at a time when Meta’s executives are focused on retaining users for the newly launched text-based app “Threads” after losing more than half of its users in the weeks following its release on July 5th.
Last week, Facebook’s parent company reported a strong increase in advertising revenue in its earnings and expected third-quarter revenue to exceed market expectations, the company has been recovering from the challenges it faced last year, fueled by the hype surrounding emerging AI technology and cost-cutting measures that led to 21,000 layoffs since last fall.
It’s worth noting that the Financial Times report confirms what was published in early June that Instagram is testing a chatbot that answers user questions and provides advice, among other features.
A screenshot was previously shared, indicating that the chatbot would be capable of answering questions, offering advice, and assisting users in writing messages.
The report also mentioned that users would have the option to choose from 30 AI characters and find their preferred personality.
Meta, the owner of Instagram, has not officially announced any plans for such a feature, but the chatbot aligns with previous data about the company’s ambitions in the field of AI.
In February, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta is “developing AI personalities that can assist people in various ways” and exploring how to make such chatbots available through text conversations in WhatsApp and Messenger.
