Tech giant Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, has announced its plans to introduce a range of AI-powered chatbots with different personalities and functions. The move comes as the company places a strong emphasis on user retention.
According to a report from the Financial Times, Meta is developing artificial intelligence chatbots capable of holding discussions with users at a human-like level. Prototypes of these chatbots have already been in progress, and the final versions are expected to be released as early as next month.
Insiders familiar with the matter revealed that the chatbots, known internally as “personas,” will take on various character forms. For instance, one of the chatbots has been designed to emulate the speech of former US President Abraham Lincoln, while another takes on a surfer-like persona to provide travel advice.
The primary goal of these chatbots will be to offer personalized recommendations, enhance search functionality, and provide a fun interactive experience for users. However, the company also aims to ensure the accuracy of the chatbots’ responses and prevent any content that violates rules or guidelines. Meta is considering implementing automated checks on the chatbots’ outputs for this purpose.
Although Meta has not provided further comments on the matter, industry news outlet Cointelegraph reached out to the company for additional insight but received no response at the time of publication.
This development aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to retain its user base. During the company’s recent second-quarter earnings call in July, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed the launch of Threads, a new product designed to rival social media platform Twitter.
As Meta focuses on enhancing user engagement and retention, the introduction of AI chatbots with distinct personalities and functions could provide a novel and interactive experience for users across its platforms.
