Even though artificial intelligence has been ubiquitous for over a year, this may be the first contact with the technology for many people. Meta's app has billions of users, and anyone who has been able to avoid bots in the past will find it nearly impossible to escape this time.
Why is this AI chatbot here?
Facebook and Instagram users probably weren't knocking on Mark Zuckerberg's door asking for an AI chatbot, so why is this feature suddenly becoming so ubiquitous? It is still new and its usefulness is debatable. But big tech companies decided that AI, like voice assistants and scrollable vertical video before them, was the next big thing.Now they They are competing to release their respective versions. Facebook and Instagram used to rely on users' friends, family, and communities to keep their attention. These platforms are now aging, and businesses may expect chatty bots to replace some human interactions.
Chatbots are integrated into Meta's app-wide search and messaging features and may also appear on some posts in your feed. If you don't see AI features yet, please check back later. Its presence is indicated by the logo. It's mostly blue with a thin ring that occasionally animates. The AI tool can also be accessed online through his standalone website meta.ai. It is not included in the company's children's app “Messenger Kids.”
On Facebook, if you tap the search icon at the top, you'll notice that the regular search bar has been replaced with a search bar that says “Ask Meta AI anything.” Search suggestions will automatically appear as you start typing. Anything with a blue circle next to it will display an AI chat window. You can also tap the Messages icon to interact with Meta AI as if it were another friend. When this feature appears below a post in your feed, it suggests questions to ask related to the content you see.
On Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, you'll also see Meta AI take over the search bar and appear as a separate chat. If your accounts are connected to each other, your Meta AI conversation should pick up where you left off, regardless of which app you're using.
Meta has confirmed that there is no way to exclude Meta AI from search. On WhatsApp,[設定]→[チャット]→[メタ AI ボタンを表示]You have the option to hide the new Meta AI button by going to However, it is still visible in the search bar. Other apps have an option to mute replies. When we asked our AI chatbot how to turn it off, we received multiple incorrect answers about instructions that didn't work or settings that didn't exist.
Deleting chats with Meta AI allows you to delete chats from your recent conversations just like any other chat.Swipe left on the chat and on Instagram[削除]for Facebook and Messenger.[その他]→[削除]on WhatsApp.[その他]→[チャットを削除]Choose.
Start typing full sentences or random words in the app's search bar or in a conversation with Meta AI. If you're new to AI chatbots, you can also start with a simple question and check out our list of ways to use them.
I did the first thing a normal person would do when testing an AI tool. I tried to push its boundaries by asking it to pretend to be my boyfriend and telling it to generate an image of a duck writing a breakup letter. I found myself avoiding engaging in overtly sexual conversations and generating pictures of the Pope (totally unrelated questions). As with all artificial intelligence, there are creative ways to get around that filter.
Meta AI includes shortcut options. Type a forward slash and the command, such as /joke:, /imagine:, /story:, followed by a description. However, these aren't really necessary, as you can make the same request conversationally, such as “Please tell me a story about a depressed hamster who ran for mayor.”
What should I use it for?
AI chatbots are like having an enthusiastic but unreliable friend. You can ask almost anything, but never assume it's telling the truth. With that in mind, use Meta AI for fun or unimportant tasks. Just like Google, ask random questions, start conversations to feel less alone, and use it for brainstorming.
Meta AI can also generate images, but in our tests it had the typical flaws associated with artificial intelligence. Most images share the surreal lighting that AI images are known for, with groping details such as fingers and eyes, and frequent depictions of women's exposed and ample cleavage.
There are many other things I would like to try. You can ask Meta AI to animate an image, request a summary of the day's news, or ask it to assume the personality of a certain character when you talk to it. It's integrated with Meta's other products, so you can use it for searches like “reels for people learning to roller skate.”
For best results, ask follow-up questions and provide as much detail as possible to avoid bland responses. For a list of starter ideas, check out Tech Friend Shima Ovide's recommendations on useful things to ask your chatbot.
What should it not be used for?
Don't use AI as an authority on important matters. For example, don't rely on chatbots as a source of medical advice or school or job information. Ethically, you shouldn't use this to write a school report, but Meta AI will happily spit out a wooden essay on request.
Experts have warned that tools such as Meta's chatbot run the risk of leaking false information. To avoid this, avoid using it as a go-to for anything sensitive or political. Look to reporters, experts, and even human sources like Wikipedia and Reddit before artificial intelligence. For more advice on how to avoid misinformation, check out our guide.
How is it different from other AI bots?
When it comes to the basics, Meta AI seems to spit out the same general answers as its competitors. I asked her five different chatbots about the best taquerias in San Francisco, vegetarian meal plans, whether God exists, and how to know if Polycule is right for you. For the most part, they all gave incredibly similar, mundane, but neutral answers, with the exception of Microsoft's co-pilot, who doesn't like pranks.
Is my information stored?
Take the same precautions when entering your questions or thoughts into an AI chatbot as you would with Google Search. Meta stores your conversations, but the data is anonymized to protect your privacy. That is, it is not associated with a name or identity. While this is standard for tech companies, experts say it is possible to re-identify a person using additional data points. If you want to delete a chat, use the shortcut “/reset-ai” and Meta claims it will delete the conversation from its servers.
