With the rapid advancement of technology and the ever-increasing demand for innovative solutions, major tech companies are diving headfirst into the artificial intelligence race. One such player is Meta, the parent company of the popular social media platform, which is now gearing up to launch a diverse array of AI-backed chatbots.
According to a recent report by the Financial Times (FT) on August 2, 2023, these chatbots are scheduled to hit the digital scene as early as next month. The primary objective behind this move is to enhance user engagement significantly. To achieve this, Meta has been investing in the development of persona-based chatbot prototypes that are capable of conducting human-like conversations with its massive user base of nearly four billion individuals.
What sets these chatbots apart is their unique personalities. Inside sources have informed FT that Meta’s staff has internally referred to these diverse personalities as “personas.” These personas are distinct characters, each with its own specific traits and characteristics. From a chatbot that impersonates historical figures like Abraham Lincoln to one that adopts the laid-back demeanor of a surfer while providing travel advice, the range of personas seems intriguingly diverse.
“Their purpose will be to provide a new search function and offer recommendations, as well as being a fun product for people to play with,” FT stated.
However, Meta’s endeavor into the AI landscape is not without competition. The tech industry in Silicon Valley is currently witnessing a surge in rivalry, with big players like Microsoft and Google also making significant strides in the AI domain. Microsoft has shown its support for ChatGPT, while Google has recently unveiled Duet AI, an AI generative tool for Google Cloud. Additionally, entrepreneur Elon Musk is in the mix with his own creation, TruthGPT, to compete with ChatGPT.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta, has a vested interest in delving into the AI industry. By incorporating AI-backed chatbots, he aims to attract and retain users, while simultaneously engaging in fierce battles with other social media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter.
The potential of AI-backed chatbots goes beyond just improving user engagement. Experts speculate that these bots could amass vast amounts of user data and insights. With this data, Meta can precisely target users with relevant content and advertisements, leading to improved user experiences and higher revenue potential
However, there are legitimate concerns surrounding user privacy and the potential for manipulation. As chatbots gather more data and become increasingly sophisticated in mimicking human interactions, there is a need for stringent safeguards to protect user information and prevent any form of manipulation or nudging.
Ravit Dotan, an AI ethics adviser and researcher, stated: “Once users interact with a chatbot, it really exposes much more of their data to the company, so that the company can do anything they want with that data.”
Zuckerberg revealed during an earnings call on Wednesday that he envisioned AI “agents that act as assistants, coaches or that can help you interact with businesses and creators. We don’t think that there’s going to be one single AI that people interact with.”
Meta has hinted that it will reveal more about its AI product roadmap during the Meta Connect developer event in September. The company’s CEO has expressed their vision to design AI agents to assist customer service businesses and internal AI-powered productivity assistants for staff, indicating a broader and more diverse AI ecosystem in the making.
Meta plans to develop an avatar chatbot in the metaverse in the longer run, a source told FT, “Zuckerberg is spending all his energy and time on ideating about this.”
In its pursuit of cutting-edge AI technology, Meta has been investing in generative AI and recently launched Llama 2, a commercial version of a large language model that could power its chatbots. To address concerns about inappropriate content, a source from Meta disclosed that the company is exploring ways to automate checks on chatbot output to ensure accuracy and appropriateness, while actively filtering out instances of hate speech and rule-breaking vocabulary.
As the world eagerly anticipates the official launch of Meta’s AI-backed chatbots, the tech industry will be closely monitoring the developments and potential implications. The intersection of AI and social media is an ever-evolving landscape, and Meta’s entry into this domain is expected to have far-reaching effects on user experiences, data privacy, and the competitive dynamics among major tech players.