Meta Connect 2023: Meta unleashes AI-powered chatbots across Instagram, Facebook & Whatsapp

At the Meta Connect 2023 event, Meta Platforms Inc. made waves by announcing a transformative wave of AI features integrated into its popular apps, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. These innovations are set to revolutionise user experiences and bring unparalleled creativity to the forefront of social interactions.

Meta AI assistant: Your new personal companion

Perhaps the most intriguing announcement was the introduction of Meta AI, an AI assistant that users can interact with like a person. Available on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and soon on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Quest 3, Meta AI is a custom model integrating technologies from Llama 2 and the latest large language model research by Meta. In text-based chats, it provides real-time information through Meta's partnership with Bing and offers image generation capabilities.

Meta has gone above and beyond, creating a diverse cast of 28 AI characters, each with unique backstories. These AI personalities can be messaged on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, offering users an array of interactive experiences. Some are even embodied by cultural icons and influencers, such as Charli D’Amelio, Dwyane Wade, Kendall Jenner, MrBeast, Snoop Dogg, and Paris Hilton, with dedicated profiles on Instagram and Facebook for users to explore.

AI stickers revolutionise communication

Meta unveiled a groundbreaking feature, AI stickers, which leverages Llama 2 technology and their Emu model for image generation. This tool translates text prompts into unique, high-quality stickers in a matter of seconds. Select English-language users will gain access to this feature over the next month, enabling them to express their feelings with a myriad of customisable stickers across the Meta ecosystem.

Image editing elevated with AI

In the pipeline are two game-changing features for Instagram: Restyle and Backdrop. Powered by Emu and Meta's Segment Anything Model, these tools will allow users to transform and co-create AI-generated images with friends. Backdrop is particularly innovative, enabling users to change the scene or background of an image based on descriptive prompts, fostering unparalleled creativity in visual storytelling.

Meta's Connect 2023 event marks a significant leap forward in the integration of AI technology into social networking, promising enhanced connectivity, creativity, and productivity for millions of users. As Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg aptly stated, "AI is enabling new forms of connection and expression," and these innovations are set to redefine the way we engage with the digital world.