Meta Unveils Star-Studded AI Chatbots and Cutting-Edge AR Glasses in Bold Comeback
Image Source: Alex Haney | Unsplash
Meta is making a grand return to the AI chatbot scene by introducing AI versions of beloved celebrities such as Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell. This latest initiative aims to offer users more engaging and interactive experiences, building on the company’s previous efforts to infuse personality into AI interactions.
Learning from Past Attempts
Last September, Meta launched AI chatbots featuring stars like Kendall Jenner and Snoop Dogg. However, the venture was short-lived, with the company discontinuing the service in under a year. Determined to succeed this time, Meta is leveraging lessons learned to refine its approach and enhance user satisfaction.
Innovative Features for Enhanced Interaction
At its annual Connect conference, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced several new functionalities for the chatbot platform. Users will now benefit from voice-based interactions, making conversations feel more natural compared to traditional text exchanges. Additionally, the AI can recognize objects in user-uploaded photos and provide detailed information about them. An exciting image editing feature allows users to request specific changes to their photos simply by describing what they want.
Expanding User Base and Engagement
Meta reported impressive usage statistics, with over 400 million monthly users interacting with its AI tools and 185 million of them returning on a weekly basis. This surge in engagement underscores the growing popularity and acceptance of AI-driven services among Meta’s vast user base.
Introducing Orion: Meta’s Next-Gen AR Glasses
In addition to AI advancements, Meta showcased its latest augmented reality (AR) glasses, named Orion. These glasses feature intuitive hand-tracking, voice commands, and wrist-based controls, offering a seamless and immersive AR experience. Alongside Orion, Meta also announced the Quest 3S, an affordable mixed-reality headset priced starting at $300, aiming to make AR technology more accessible to the general public.
Massive Investments Fueling Innovation
Meta continues to pour substantial resources into AI, AR, and metaverse technologies, with projected expenditures reaching up to $40 billion this year alone. This significant investment reflects the company's commitment to leading the next wave of technological advancements. The financial market has responded positively, with Meta’s stock soaring over 60% since the beginning of the year, reaching a record high of $568.31.
Addressing User Concerns and Misinformation
Amidst these announcements, Meta faced a wave of misinformation when a viral Instagram story falsely claimed that users needed to repost content to prevent Meta from using it to train AI models. Prominent figures like James McAvoy and Tom Brady were among those misled by the hoax. Meta quickly clarified that users can opt out of data usage through an objection form accessible via notifications or the privacy center in account settings.
Source: BBC
