Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Instagram, is poised to transform user interaction by enabling Instagram users to create and integrate AI-powered chatbots into their profiles.
This innovative move aims to enhance user engagement and integrate Meta’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology into the popular social media platform.
The new feature, known as AI Studio, allows creators with professional accounts to design custom AI chatbots that act as personal extensions of themselves. These chatbots can be customized to respond to specific types of questions or to avoid certain topics altogether.
“Creators can tailor their AI bots to reflect their Instagram content, choose topics to avoid, and share specific links,” Meta said in a statement.
AI Studio will be accessible via ai.meta.com/ai-studio or through the Instagram app itself. Users will have the ability to share their AI creations with followers and friends, making them available for interaction on Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and the web. This feature allows creators to share information about themselves, link to favorite brands, and reference past content, thereby increasing their reach and providing quicker responses to their audience.
In addition to professional users, all Instagram users will soon be able to create themed chatbots for their profiles. Whether focusing on Nigerian cuisine, Nollywood films, or local sports, this feature will enable any user to enhance their profile with interactive, AI-driven engagement.
Through Instagram’s professional dashboard, creators can manage their AI bots by turning auto-replies on and off and controlling who receives responses. All interactions with creator AIs will be clearly marked to ensure transparency for users.
These features are expected to be rolled out more widely in the coming weeks.
Meta has been heavily investing in AI technology, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing a goal to develop some of the most advanced chatbots in the industry. AI Studio was first announced in September, and currently, Meta offers an AI chatbot, Meta AI, across Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
Meta recently introduced the Llama 3.1 AI model, described by Zuckerberg as “state-of-the-art,” designed to rival offerings from OpenAI and Google. Released in July 2024, Llama 3.1 boasts enhanced problem-solving abilities, extensive text synthesis, and advanced generative AI features, including image creation from text prompts. The “Imagine Yourself” feature allows users to upload their photos and generate various scene depictions.
“I believe the most crucial aspect of an AI assistant is its intelligence. The Llama models we’re developing are among the most advanced globally,” Zuckerberg noted in a Bloomberg interview.
Meta has also expanded its AI services to seven Sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, as well as South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. This expansion aims to enhance connectivity and provide advanced tools for creativity, expression, and productivity across the continent. Meta AI integrates with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, enabling users to perform tasks, learn, and connect seamlessly through these platforms.
Zuckerberg highlighted the company’s ambition to create the world’s leading AI, stating in a Facebook post that Meta AI is now “the most intelligent AI assistant you can freely use.”
