Meta Platforms is reportedly developing a range of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots that demonstrate unique personalities, with a launch expected as early as September, the Financial Times reported. The prototypes currently under design aim to facilitate human-like interactions with users, potentially enhancing engagement on Meta’s social media platforms.
One of the unique offerings includes a chatbot echoing the communication style of Abraham Lincoln, while another provides travel advice in a surfer’s lingo. The planned chatbots will introduce a novel search function and offer recommendations to users.
Meta’s Focus on Boosting Retention and Recovering from a Challenging Year
The announcement follows Meta’s efforts to improve user retention on its recently launched text-based app, Threads, which experienced a significant drop in users in the weeks following its debut. In addition to this focus, Meta is recovering from a challenging 2022, marked by the reduction of approximately 21,000 employees and fueled by the excitement around emerging AI technology.
Despite these setbacks, the social media giant reported a significant rise in advertising revenue last week and anticipates third-quarter revenue to surpass market expectations. The move towards chatbots mirrors similar AI initiatives by Apple, reportedly developing offerings akin to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
