Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is reportedly working on the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot with a human-like personality. According to the Financial Times, insiders familiar with the matter have stated that the chatbot prototype is in progress, aiming to engage in natural and human-like discussions with users. These chatbots, referred to as "personas" by Meta employees, are designed to embody different personalities and are anticipated to be launched as early as next month.
The chatbot personas being developed by Meta are expected to encompass a variety of characters. For example, there's a bot that mimics the speech of former US President Abraham Lincoln and another that adopts the language style of a surfer providing travel advice. The primary objective of These chatbots are to offer recommendations and enhance the user experience with a new search function, adding an element of playful interaction.
While Meta appears to be striving to make user interactions more engaging, it's also underlining the importance of accuracy and sensitivity. The company is considering automatic checks on chatbot output to prevent inaccuracies and inappropriate statements that might offend users. This move comes as Meta is actively working to retain its user base, with the recent launch of its product Threads, which aims to compete with platforms like Twitter. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the company's focus on user retention during the second-quarter 2023 earnings call.
The advent of accessible chatbots not only contributes to improved user engagement but also raises concerns about data collection. OpenAI, creator of the widely known ChatGPT AI chatbot, is currently facing a class action lawsuit alleging data theft via its own chatbot.
