Meta has unveiled an exciting array of AI-powered bots, features, and products that will enhance its messaging platforms, the Meta Quest 3, and the upcoming Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These innovations range from an AI assistant to advanced image editing tools, leveraging generative AI to make Meta’s technology even more engaging. As Meta claims, these AI experiences are designed to empower users to be more creative, expressive, and productive.
These announcements were made during Meta’s annual Connect conference, where the company also showcased its latest mixed reality headset and provided updates on its collaboration with Ray-Ban for smart glasses. All this AI technology is built on Llama 2, Meta’s recently introduced family of open-access AI models released in July. Llama 2 is engineered to generate text and code based on user prompts and is trained on a diverse set of publicly available data. Meta has also indicated that Llama 3 will launch in 2024.
Among the key announcements at Connect, Meta introduced its AI image generator, Emu, which will facilitate features such as AI stickers and enhanced image editing capabilities.
Key Features of Meta’s AI Innovations
AI Assistant, Powered by Bing
Meta’s new AI Assistant utilizes the Llama 2 large language model (LLM) and aims to deliver real-time information and create photorealistic images from text prompts in seconds. This assistant can assist in planning outings within group chats, answering general knowledge questions, and conducting searches on the web via Microsoft’s Bing to provide immediate results.
By leveraging Llama 2, Meta developed specialized datasets focused on natural conversations, allowing the AI to respond in a friendly and relatable manner. “With Meta AI, we recognized the chance to develop an assistant that offers more than just poetry,” noted Ahmad Al-Dahle, VP of GenAI at Meta. “We’ve created an orchestrator that adeptly detects user intent from prompts and directs it to the appropriate function.” The first of these functions is the web search, powered by Bing, designed for queries that require real-time data.
“Whether you’re curious about the origins of Eggs Benedict, how to prepare it, or where to find it in San Francisco, Meta AI ensures you have access to the latest information via search,” Al-Dahle added. This AI Assistant will be available in beta in the U.S. across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, with future integration planned for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and the Quest 3 VR headset.
Celebrity-Based AI Chatbots
Meta has launched 28 AI personality chatbots modeled after famous celebrities and influencers from various fields such as sports, music, and social media. These personas can be interacted with on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Examples include:
- “Bru,” inspired by football legend Tom Brady, for sports discussions.
- “Tamika,” based on tennis star Naomi Osaka, for manga topics.
- “Zach,” portrayed by YouTube star Mr. Beast, for light-hearted conversations.
- “Luiz,” personified by MMA fighter Israel Adesanya, for MMA discussions.
- “Billie,” echoing model Kendall Jenner, as a supportive older sister type.
Created using the Llama 2 LLM, these chatbots primarily draw from information known before 2023, but Meta plans to incorporate its Bing search feature into them soon. Currently, the AI characters can communicate via text; audio interactions are expected in the future. Any video content associated with these AI personalities is generated through AI-driven animations, using real footage of the celebrities as a basis.
AI Studio for Businesses and Creators
Meta's AI Studio platform will enable businesses to develop custom AI chatbots for its messaging services—Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. The focus areas, as highlighted by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are primarily customer support and e-commerce solutions.
Initially available as an alpha version, the AI Studio will scale up in the coming year, allowing creators to design AIs that enhance their digital presence on Meta's platforms. Meta plans to introduce a sandbox feature, enabling users to experiment with creating their own AIs, which will eventually extend into the metaverse.
AI Stickers and Image Editing
Meta’s generative AI stickers will soon be available across its messaging platforms. This new feature, backed by the Emu image generation model, will allow users to create personalized stickers quickly within apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook Stories. CEO Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated the capability by showcasing unique sticker prompts, which can be generated in about three seconds.
In addition, Meta will introduce image editing features, including "restyle" and "backdrop" tools on Instagram, allowing users to enhance their photos creatively and collaboratively with AI technology from Emu. Users can employ prompts to reimagine the visual style of images or change backgrounds, with Meta ensuring that AI-generated images are clearly marked to avoid confusion with human-created content.
Commitment to Safety
Al-Dahle addressed concerns regarding the potential inaccuracies and inappropriate responses that conversational AIs might produce, emphasizing the thorough training and “red-teaming” efforts employed to minimize such risks. Meta plans to release system cards alongside its AIs to enhance transparency about their development and functionality.
In summary, Meta is at the forefront of integrating AI technologies into its platforms, aiming to enrich user experiences while ensuring safety and creativity in digital interactions.
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