Meta, formerly known as Facebook, showcased its new generative AI technologies for its consumer products, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, as well as those being used internally at the company. The company announced several AI technologies in various stages of development, including AI chatbots for Messenger and WhatsApp, AI stickers, and other tools that would allow photo editing in Instagram Stories. Meta also plans to host an internal AI hackathon in July focused on generative AI, which could result in new AI products that eventually make their way to Meta’s users. Meta’s AI chatbots, or AI agents, would allow consumers to interact with AIs that had unique personas and skill sets that could help and entertain people. Meta plans to first release its AI agents on Messenger and WhatsApp but sees a broader future for such technologies that may see them expanding across its family of applications, and eventually to smart glasses. Meta is experimenting with AI that would allow users to engage with a text prompt in order to modify their own photos for sharing in Instagram Stories. The company is also using generative AI for internal purposes, including an experimental internal-only interface to an agents playground powered by its large language model LLaMA. Meta confirmed its initial consumer-facing tools will arrive this year, likely sometime in the next few months. The company aims to bring these capabilities to billions of people in new ways that other people aren’t going to do.
