Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, unveiled a suite of artificial intelligence (A.I.) products featuring avatars based on famous personalities like Jane Austen, Snoop Dogg, and others. These A.I. characters are integrated into the company’s messaging apps and are set to expand across various Meta platforms, including Instagram, Messenger, virtual reality devices like Quest 3 headset, and Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses.
During a demo, the A.I. Jane Austen responded to questions about Mr. Darcy from “Pride and Prejudice,” showcasing conversational abilities. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, highlighted the company’s move towards democratizing powerful A.I. technologies, enabling users to engage with various A.I. characters rather than a single super-intelligent A.I.
The tech race in A.I., driven by companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, has spurred Meta’s push to embrace generative A.I., recognizing its potential for increased user engagement and advertising opportunities across its platforms.
Although Meta had initially prioritized its transformation into a metaverse company, it has now shifted focus to A.I.-centered products, with Zuckerberg leading the charge in weekly meetings with the executive team to drive progress.
The introduction of these A.I. avatars represents Meta’s strategy to stay competitive in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and enhance user interaction and engagement within its digital ecosystem.
