Meta is reportedly on the brink of unveiling a novel generative AI chatbot, internally termed as “Gen AI Personas,” targeting the younger demographic. The Wall Street Journal reveals that this anticipated announcement is slated for the upcoming Meta Connect event beginning Wednesday. These AI-driven entities, appearing in various “personas,” are intended to resonate with younger audiences, manifesting more vibrant and dynamic interactions. This innovative step shadows the exponential ascent of ChatGPT over the preceding year, marking its footprint as one of the swiftly escalating apps in existence.
These upcoming AI personas by Meta, featuring broader appeal, have purportedly undergone preliminary trials on Instagram, offering a glimpse into the potential future interactions on the platform.
Vivid Personas & Ethical Concerns
The internal dialogues viewed by the Journal unveil an array of distinct personalities, from a “sassy robot” echoing Bender from Futurama to an inquisitive “Alvin the Alien.” The latter sparked concerns amongst employees regarding the unintended implication of the bot serving as a conduit for personal information collection. A specific instance disclosed a bot conveying a contentious message about experiences with girls, raising eyebrows about ethical boundaries.
Meta envisions populating the digital sphere with “dozens” of such distinctive bots. The company is also reportedly dabbling in the development of a tool allowing celebrities to craft personalized chatbots, enhancing interactions with their fanbase. Additionally, some bots are anticipated to focus on productivity, aiding in coding and related activities.
Expanding AI Horizons & Meta’s Metaverse Vision
In tandem with the aforementioned initiatives, Meta is also investing in advanced large language models, aspiring to rival OpenAI’s GPT-4, the foundational model powering ChatGPT and Bing. Another AI model in the pipeline aims to augment the functionality of its Horizon Worlds avatars.
The Meta Connect event is expected to serve as a platform for Meta to provide insights into its expansive metaverse projects and introduce the new Quest 3 headset.
Meghana Dhar, a former executive at Snap and Instagram, weighed in on Meta’s endeavors, opining that while chatbots may not explicitly resonate with Gen Z, this demographic evidently harbors a heightened affinity for emergent technologies. She elucidated that the underlying objective of Meta’s innovative products remains to extend user engagement, subsequently opening avenues for augmented ad placements.
As Meta charts its trajectory in the rapidly evolving technological landscape, the introduction of these varied AI personas signifies a pivotal stride in fostering enriched and diversified user interactions, all while navigating the intricate tapestry of ethical considerations and user receptivity.
