Meta, the technology company once focused on building a “Metaverse,” has shifted its focus toward artificial intelligence (AI) following substantial financial losses and significant job cuts. Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promoted new AI initiatives, including the introduction of an animated chatbot featuring celebrity personas. However, this initial effort was poorly received and led to the discontinuation of the chatbot just months later.
The company has since launched AI Studio, enabling users to create personalized chatbots, including fictional characters. Aimed at attracting younger audiences, Meta plans to allow these AI characters to function as unique “users” on Facebook and Instagram, complete with their own profiles and the ability to generate content. This move is seen as a strategy to reinvigorate user engagement, particularly among younger demographics crucial to the platforms’ success.
Despite these innovations, there are concerns regarding their appropriateness on platforms designed for personal interaction. Meta also faces challenges from prevalent AI-generated spam and bots that can compromise user experience. Critics have noted an increase in AI’s influence on social interactions, highlighting associated risks, such as misinformation and inappropriate content.
In a broader context, Meta is working to strengthen its AI capabilities and accelerate developments in what it describes as artificial general intelligence (AGI), a concept that still remains largely theoretical. However, experts caution that Meta’s approach raises privacy concerns and may not align with user needs or expectations related to social media interaction.
As Meta embarks on this pivot towards AI, there remains uncertainty about the future of its platforms if they increasingly become populated by bots rather than humans, potentially driving users to seek alternative forms of communication.