Last updated on June 12th, 2023 at 09:57 am

Staff members receive a sneak peek of ChatGPT-like chatbots for Messenger and WhatsApp.

During an internal meeting, Meta (Facebook’s owner) disclosed its new AI-focused tools, confirming the development of ChatGPT-like chatbots for Messenger and WhatsApp. These chatbots will be capable of conversing with different personalities. The all-hands meeting, streamed globally, featured key executives such as Andrew Bosworth (CTO), Chris Cox (Chief Product Officer), and Mark Zuckerberg (Founder and CEO). Meta also unveiled additional features, including text-based photo modification on Instagram and the creation of emoji stickers for messaging services. A company spokesperson provided a summary of the session to Reuters.

Meta’s recent announcements follow a challenging period for the company. Over the past few years, Meta has faced significant setbacks, including massive layoffs and an $80 billion loss in value after an underwhelming earnings report in 2022. The company has been grappling with an identity crisis since rebranding from Facebook to Meta and placing a strong focus on transitioning its core business from social media to the metaverse, its virtual reality project.

While Meta has struggled, allocating over $10 billion annually to metaverse development, its competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Snapchat have gained substantial investor attention by launching generative AI products, leaving Meta playing catch-up.

Despite Meta’s efforts, it has yet to introduce any generative AI products for consumers. However, the company recently announced its collaboration with a select group of advertisers to test AI-powered tools for generating image backgrounds and written copy variations for ad campaigns.

According to Paul Barrett, the deputy director of New York University’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, Meta’s current situation appears to be a frantic attempt to catch up with its competitors across various domains.

After realizing its insufficient hardware and software capabilities to support AI products, the company initiated a reorganization of its AI divisions and made significant investments in improving its infrastructure.

During the session, Mark Zuckerberg informed employees that recent advancements in generative AI have enabled the company to integrate the technology across all of its products.

Apart from the tools aimed at consumers, executives unveiled a productivity assistant called Metamate for employees. Metamate can provide answers and perform tasks by utilizing information extracted from internal company systems.

Meta’s development of various tools will heavily rely on open-source models, enabling users to create their own AI-powered chatbots and other technologies. However, this decision has faced criticism from critics and competitors who argue that it may amplify the dissemination of misinformation and hate speech on a larger scale.

Ari Lightman, a professor of digital media at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, expressed concerns about the intentions of individuals seeking access to Facebook’s data. He emphasized the importance of establishing comprehensive policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure that hasty actions do not have detrimental effects on society in the future.

According to the New York Times report on Thursday’s meeting, Mark Zuckerberg addressed concerns surrounding Meta’s open-source approach to AI. He emphasized the value of democratizing access to AI and expressed his hope that users would be able to develop AI programs independently without relying solely on frameworks provided by a few major technology companies.

Despite the increased emphasis on AI, Zuckerberg reiterated Meta’s commitment to its metaverse plans, as reported by the New York Times. He echoed his previous statements that the metaverse technology has the potential to expand the virtual world.

“We have been dedicating our efforts to both AI and the metaverse for years, and we will continue to prioritize both,” Zuckerberg stated during Meta’s most recent quarterly earnings call.