Introduction to Meta’s AI Assistant

Meta is introducing its AI assistant across 41 European countries, including those in the European Union, commencing this week. Furthermore, access will be extended to 21 overseas European territories. In its announcement, Meta stated that the rollout of its AI technology to European users has been delayed due to the complexity of the regulatory system in the region.

Background and Regulatory Challenges

The company initially planned to launch its AI technology in the region last year but was forced to postpone its plans after the Irish Data Protection Commission requested a delay in training its Large Language Models on content posted by adult European users on Facebook and Instagram. A month following the Irish regulator’s request, Meta announced that it would not release its new multimodal Llama models in the region due to regulatory uncertainties.

Rollout and Features

Meta’s AI rollout in Europe will commence by integrating the technology into its messaging apps across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. These platforms will soon feature a blue circle on their interface. Initially, the AI will be available in six regional languages and offer limited capabilities focused on text queries. However, the company plans to expand its AI’s offerings over time, aiming to achieve parity with the US.

User Interaction

European users will be able to interact with Meta AI in group chats by typing @MetaAI followed by their prompt or question. The chatbot can also be used to find relevant posts and Reels by typing in specific queries, such as "show me Vancouver Island content." Additionally, users will be able to look up information from across the web within the chatbot.