Meta Rolls Out AI Chatbot to All Users in India

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Meta Rolls Out AI Chatbot to All Users in India

Introduction

Following extensive testing during India’s general elections, Meta is now introducing its Llama-3-powered AI chatbot to all users in the country. Despite this expansion, the Meta AI currently supports only English, with no local language options available.

Testing Phase and Initial Rollout

Meta began testing the chatbot in April across its various platforms—WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook—by offering it to select users. Although the bot was launched in over a dozen countries shortly after, India was excluded, likely due to the ongoing general elections at that time.

Accessibility and Functionality

The chatbot is now accessible to all users via the search bar within Meta’s apps and through the meta.ai website. Meta AI offers functionalities similar to other popular chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude. Users can request the chatbot to suggest recipes, plan workouts, draft emails, or summarize text.

On Instagram, the bot can recommend Reels based on user queries, and on Facebook, users will see prompts on their feed allowing them to ask questions about posts. For instance, upon seeing a photo of the aurora borealis, a user could inquire about the best places and times to witness the northern lights.

Image Generation Capabilities and Biases

Meta AI also has the capability to generate images from user prompts. However, it has faced criticism for displaying biases, such as frequently adding turbans to images of Indian men and generating stereotypical depictions of Indian houses. While Meta has stated that it continually updates its models, it remains uncertain whether these specific biases have been addressed.

Official Statement and Continuous Improvement

“This is a new technology, and it may not always return the response we intend, which is the same for all generative AI systems. Since we launched, we’ve constantly released updates and improvements to our models, and we’re continuing to work on making them better,” a Meta spokesperson explained to TechCrunch.

Reaching India’s Vast User Base

Meta is launching its chatbot to a significant user base in India, including 500 million WhatsApp users and millions more on its other platforms. On WhatsApp, users can chat individually with Meta AI or use it within group chats to assist with tasks like planning trips or choosing movies.

Privacy and Interaction

The company clarified that Meta AI does not have context beyond the text used in mentions or replies within group chats. The AI model is fine-tuned based on these interactions. However, users cannot disable or hide the Meta AI functionality within the app. They can choose to perform searches without engaging the chatbot.

Conclusion

Meta’s introduction of its AI chatbot to the Indian market marks a significant step in leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance user experiences. While the chatbot is currently limited to English, ongoing updates and improvements promise to refine and expand its capabilities.

Meta Rolls Out AI Chatbot to All Users in India

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