Meta has discontinued its AI chatbots that allowed users to communicate with celebrity alter egos, as reported by The Information. This project, which was a significant feature of the Meta Connect event last September, is no longer available to users.
The company has abandoned the AI personas based on real and fictional celebrities in favor of introducing the AI Studio tool. This new direction allows American content creators to develop AI chatbots based on their own content, essentially creating digital copies of themselves. Meta is now prioritizing this approach over AI characters created by its in-house specialists.
Liz Sweeney, a spokesperson for Meta, explained the shift to The Verge: “You will no longer be able to interact with AI characters imitating celebrities. We learned a lot from creating them and [voice assistant] Meta AI to understand how people can use AI to communicate, and offer unique ways. AI Studio is an evolution that creates a space for everyone, including [ordinary] people, bloggers, and celebrities, to create their own AI.”
The Future of AI at Meta
As part of the now-discontinued project, Meta had collaborated with celebrities whose likenesses were used for the AI chatbots, with some reportedly receiving millions in royalties. The company had plans to introduce new characters, including British adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls, but these plans will not come to fruition.
Despite this change in direction, Meta still considers AI chatbots to be a promising field, notes NIXSolutions. The company has integrated its Meta AI assistant into various platforms, including Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Meta’s decision to focus on empowering creators with AI tools rather than offering pre-made celebrity chatbots reflects a shift in the company’s AI strategy. This move aims to democratize AI-powered communication and provide users with more personalized experiences.
We’ll keep you updated on any further developments in Meta’s AI initiatives and how they may impact users and content creators alike.