Meta Developing Prototypes for Chatbots Capable of Engaging in Humanlike Conversations with Users
According to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday, Meta Platforms is gearing up to introduce a series of AI-powered chatbots with diverse personalities, slated for launch in September. The company has been diligently working on prototypes to enable these chatbots to engage in humanlike conversations with users, aiming to enhance user engagement on its social media platforms. Notably, these chatbots will showcase unique personas, such as one speaking like Abraham Lincoln and another adopting the demeanor of a surfer while advising on travel options. Their primary role will encompass a new search function and providing recommendations.
The report coincides with Meta’s efforts to retain users on its text-based app Threads, which saw a significant decline in user numbers following its launch on July 5. As of now, Meta has not commented on the details presented in the Financial Times report.
Recent financial results have been promising for the Facebook parent, showing a notable increase in advertising revenue, with third-quarter revenue projections surpassing market expectations.
To regain momentum after a challenging year in 2022, Meta has been actively exploring the potential of emerging AI technology. Additionally, the company has implemented an austerity drive resulting in a significant reduction of around 21,000 employees since the previous fall. As part of its AI initiatives, Meta released Llama 2, an updated version of its open-source AI model, tailored for commercial use. This model will be distributed through Microsoft’s Azure cloud service and will be compatible with the Windows operating system.
Interestingly, Bloomberg News reported in July that Apple is also delving into the AI domain with projects similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. Apple has created its framework called ‘Ajax’ for crafting large language models and is currently testing a chatbot referred to as ‘Apple GPT’, according to some engineers involved in the project.