ieExplains: What is Meta AI?
Meta AI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Meta has expanded its AI chatbot to Europe almost one year after pausing its launch in the region.
The tech giant has began the process of rolling out Meta AI across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger in 41 European Countries and 21 overseas territories.
But what is Meta's newest AI assistant and why is it being launched?
Meta's AI Assistant is a chatbot that provides real-time responses to user queries, much like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini.
It is being rolled out across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. For now, the chatbot will be limited to text-based chat features.
The new AI assistant is powered to answer questions, generate text and images and chat with users, among other capabilities like scheduling events, providing news, recommending restaurants, and more.
It can also work within group chats to assist multiple people at once.
Meta AI was launched in the US in 2023 and while it initially planned to bring it to Europe, its expansion was paused after concerns were raised by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC).
In 2023, privacy campaigners complained about Meta's plans amid fears that they may be in breach of EU privacy rules, with the DPC engaging with the tech giant and urging it to postpone plans to train its large language model using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram across the EU/EEA.
Meta also halted the launch of its multimodal Llama AI model in the European Union due to regulatory concerns.
Speaking in March, Meta said :"It’s taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system – but we’re glad we’re finally here."
"We’ll be rolling out Meta AI for free across Europe through the messaging apps people already know – across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. To find it, just look for a new blue circle icon – tap on it to find out more and start exploring its potential."
For now, there is no way to disable Meta AI across the Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger apps.
