Meta AI Takes UK by Storm: Latest Updates Revealed

Meta AI tools come to UK for first time | The Gazette

Meta’s generative AI tools, including a chatbot which can be used across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, are now beginning to roll out in the UK, the tech giant has confirmed. First launched last year, Meta AI allows users to ask questions using text, voice, or images to get more information, creative assistance, or inspiration, and edit or generate new images.

The tools have already launched in the US, but not yet reached the UK or EU because of concerns raised by regulators over Meta’s plans to train the AI models it uses to run its tools using public posts from users of its platforms. However, the tech giant confirmed last month that it had reached an agreement on the issue with the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and that it would start training its models on posts from UK users who do not raise an objection to their data being used.

Agreement with UK Regulator

At the time, the tech giant announced that Meta AI tools could be introduced in the UK “much sooner”. In a blog post announcing the UK rollout, Meta confirmed the technology will also be coming to its Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses, as well as to a number of other countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia either immediately or in the coming months. In the UK, the tools will initially be available inside Facebook and Instagram.

There was, however, still no word on an EU rollout, where the company remains in deadlock with regulators.

Global Rollout

Meta stated, “We’re sharing our plan to open up access to Meta AI in more countries and languages throughout the rest of the year. We’ll be rolling out Meta AI to 21 new locales around the world, starting today with the United Kingdom, Brazil, and more countries in Latin America and Asia. It’s coming soon to the Middle East for the first time, too."

The blog post mentioned that Meta AI is conveniently located in familiar apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Users can simply tap on the Meta AI icon or type ‘@Meta AI’ in a group chat to use it with friends. The technology can also be accessed on the web at meta.ai.

Expanding Reach

Meta aims to establish itself as a popular AI chatbot firm by introducing its tools across its social media platforms for free. The company hopes to compete with other AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

Meta also revealed its plans for a gradual rollout stating, “Following this gradual rollout, Meta AI will be available in 43 countries and a dozen languages. That means more people than ever will be able to use Meta AI to dive deep on topics that spark their interest, get helpful how-tos and find inspiration for various projects."

Meta is on track to become the most used AI assistant in the world by the end of the year with almost 500 million active users monthly.