Meta has unveiled a new AI app that combines chatbot features with a social media experience. Launched on Tuesday for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, the Meta AI app offers most of the usual aspects of an AI app. You can get information, generate content, and analyze photos and other images. But it’s the social media part that distinguishes Meta AI from its rivals.
“Meta AI is built to get to know you, so its answers are more helpful,” Meta said in a news release. “It’s easy to talk to, so it’s more seamless and natural to interact with. It’s more social, so it can show you things from the people and places you care about. And you can use Meta AI’s voice features while multitasking and doing other things on your device, with a visible icon to let you know when the microphone is in use.”
Also: I’ve been testing AI image generators for years – and my new favorite surprised me
To start, you can type your request or speak to the assistant using natural language. Talking to a chatbot isn’t a new or novel skill, but Meta claims that the responses via its Llama 4 model are more personal, relevant, and conversational.
You can pick Meta’s voice from various choices, even ones that mimic certain celebrities like Dame Judi Dench and John Cena. You can also ask the AI to generate or edit an image — through a text prompt or a voice conversation.
By default, Meta AI can search the web for the latest information to answer your questions. But this is done in a straightforward and matter-of-fact way, which is not ideal for a rich conversation. If you want the AI to engage with you in a more natural and friendly manner, you can turn to an option called full duplex. The main drawback here is that this mode doesn’t have access to the web or real-time information.
Voice conversations, including the full duplex mode, are available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to start.
Also: 5 ways to turn AI’s time-saving magic into your productivity superpower
Given that Meta owns and runs Facebook and other social networks, the AI is designed to learn and know certain things about you, whether you like it or not. That means it can draw on information you’ve shared across social media, such as your profile or favorite content. For now, though, personalized responses are available only in the US and Canada. Plus, you can tell Meta AI to remember certain things about you, which it might draw on for future chats.
Following the social media theme, Meta AI is also designed to keep you connected with other people. The app includes a Discover feed where you can see the AI prompts that others are using across Meta’s networks. If you wish, you can share any of your own prompts that you submit through the app.
For anyone who owns a pair of Meta Ray-Bans, the new AI app is the place to control your smart glasses. To that end, the Meta AI app will merge with the Meta View companion app for Ray-Ban Meta glasses. All your paired devices, settings, and media will appear automatically in the Devices tab of the new app. You can also start a conversation on your glasses and continue it in the app.
Also: A few secretive AI companies could crush free society, researchers warn
Finally, the Meta AI website is getting its own overhaul. The web version will incorporate the same voice interactions and Discover sharing found in the app and let you manage your AI glasses and other features.
“People around the world use Meta AI daily across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger,” Meta said in the news release. “And now, people can choose to experience a personal AI designed around voice conversations with Meta AI inside a standalone app. This release is the first version, and we’re excited to get this in people’s hands and gather their feedback.”
Want more stories about AI? Sign up for Innovation, our weekly newsletter.
#Metas #app #delivers #chatbot #social #media #twist
