Meta scraps failed celebrity AI chatbots after users ignored them ...
Meta recently made the decision to scrap its artificial intelligence-powered celebrity chatbots despite featuring images of well-known personalities like Tom Brady, Charli D’Amelio, MrBeast, and Paris Hilton. These chatbots failed to generate interest from users within the year since their launch.
The tech giant, which faced criticism after its AI-trained software provided inaccurate information about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, reportedly paid a significant sum of $5 million to an undisclosed influencer for a two-year pilot program.
Underwhelming Response
However, the public response, including feedback from social media users who found the chatbots unsettling and strange, led Meta to discontinue the project. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had initially promoted the campaign, offering celebrities millions of dollars to license their images for chatbots on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Despite the celebrities' popularity, the chatbots struggled to attract a substantial following.
Unsuccessful Engagement
For instance, Snoop Dogg’s AI character, “Dungeon Master,” only garnered 15,000 followers, whereas the rapper's real Instagram account boasts 87.5 million followers. Similarly, Kendall Jenner’s AI persona, “Billie,” amassed 179,000 followers, the highest among the 28 AI characters, but significantly lower than her 194 million Instagram followers.
As of the latest update, the links to these celebrity chatbots on Facebook and Instagram indicate that the pages are no longer accessible, confirming Meta's decision to remove them.
New Tool Launch
Meta announced the launch of a new tool called AI Studio, allowing users to create, share, and design personalized AI chatbots. This platform will enable users to develop customized AI characters and permit Instagram creators to utilize these characters to handle common direct message inquiries and story responses.
The AI Studio utilizes Meta’s Llama 3.1, a comprehensive version of its mostly free artificial intelligence models, complemented by various language options and performance metrics rivalling those of paid models from competitors like OpenAI.
AI Advancements
Meta’s strategic focus on AI is further buoyed by WhatsApp's vast user base in India, which has accelerated the company's AI ambitions. Meta confirmed that India stands as the largest market for Meta AI usage, underscoring the remarkable progress since its launch in the country a few months ago.
Meta's commitment to advancing AI technology is evident in its continuous efforts to enhance user experience and engagement through innovative tools like AI Studio.
