Meta Launches Conversational AI Tool Across Europe
Meta AI becomes available in France and 40 other European countries on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
Meta Platforms, Inc., the American parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, announced on March 20 its rollout of Meta AI, a conversational artificial intelligence tool, in France and 40 additional European countries.
This tool, which has been available in the United States for the past 18 months, will be accessible for free to users through individual and group conversations on these platforms, with an integrated assistant available within the applications.
Meta AI is designed to generate text-based responses to queries similar to systems such as ChatGPT, and will support six European languages.
Users on WhatsApp can invoke Meta AI using the command @MetaAI followed by their written prompts.
Initially, this feature will be exclusive to WhatsApp but will be gradually expanded to include Messenger and Instagram conversations.
The conversational AI can be accessed via an icon resembling a blue circle in the messaging panel, allowing users to explore contemporary topics since it can retrieve information from the internet.
This primary use case for Meta AI, which has already been implemented in several markets, underscores a focus on social interaction and casual communication, as the company noted that many users engage with the tool for humor and informal discussions.
However, features enabling conversations with AI-generated digital avatars of celebrities, including figures like Snoop Dogg, Kendall Jenner, or Tom Brady, have been removed.
Initially launched in the United States, these features were discontinued by Meta in 2024, according to company statements.
Meta is the second major tech company, following Apple, to resume its planned rollout of AI technology in Europe after initially suspending it due to regulatory concerns.
In 2024, Meta led a campaign against European regulations, which it described as "too complex and incoherent." The company acknowledged the challenges posed by the stringent regulatory environment, stating: "It took us longer than expected to deploy our AI technology in Europe as we continue to navigate a complex regulatory system, but we are pleased to finally reach this point."
This tool, which has been available in the United States for the past 18 months, will be accessible for free to users through individual and group conversations on these platforms, with an integrated assistant available within the applications.
Meta AI is designed to generate text-based responses to queries similar to systems such as ChatGPT, and will support six European languages.
Users on WhatsApp can invoke Meta AI using the command @MetaAI followed by their written prompts.
Initially, this feature will be exclusive to WhatsApp but will be gradually expanded to include Messenger and Instagram conversations.
The conversational AI can be accessed via an icon resembling a blue circle in the messaging panel, allowing users to explore contemporary topics since it can retrieve information from the internet.
This primary use case for Meta AI, which has already been implemented in several markets, underscores a focus on social interaction and casual communication, as the company noted that many users engage with the tool for humor and informal discussions.
However, features enabling conversations with AI-generated digital avatars of celebrities, including figures like Snoop Dogg, Kendall Jenner, or Tom Brady, have been removed.
Initially launched in the United States, these features were discontinued by Meta in 2024, according to company statements.
Meta is the second major tech company, following Apple, to resume its planned rollout of AI technology in Europe after initially suspending it due to regulatory concerns.
In 2024, Meta led a campaign against European regulations, which it described as "too complex and incoherent." The company acknowledged the challenges posed by the stringent regulatory environment, stating: "It took us longer than expected to deploy our AI technology in Europe as we continue to navigate a complex regulatory system, but we are pleased to finally reach this point."
