Meta is developing a search engine so it can decrease its reliance ...
Meta has been indexing the web for at least eight months with the goal of creating its own search engine to integrate into Meta AI. This initiative aims to offer an alternative to Google Search and Microsoft Bing and reduce Meta's dependency on competitors' services.
Utilizing web crawlers, which are part of Facebook, Meta has been 'crawling' content and information shared on its social media platform. However, the purpose of these web crawlers will now shift towards AI search, requiring Meta's search engine to scrape and crawl the entire internet for data and training.
Partnership with Reuters
While Meta has not publicly disclosed its detailed search engine plans, it recently announced a strategic partnership with news outlet Reuters. This collaboration will enable the Meta AI chatbot to utilize Reuters as a source with proper citations when responding to user queries.
One of the motivations driving Meta's search engine development is the potential redundancy it offers. In the event that access to Google Search or Microsoft Bing is restricted or halted for any reason, having a backup solution becomes crucial for Meta's operations.
Growth of Meta AI
Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the rapid growth of Meta AI at the Meta Connect 2024 event in September, revealing that the platform is approaching 500 million monthly active users. With expansion plans in significant markets like the EU, where Meta AI has yet to launch, the user base is expected to continue growing.
As Meta continues to evolve its AI capabilities and expand its user base, the development of an in-house search engine represents a strategic move towards self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on external search providers.
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