Meta’s new AI competitor to ChatGPT launches in the UK, offering free, open-source functionality.
- Meta AI expands its reach, integrating with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
- The assistant launches simultaneously in South American countries, projecting global impact.
- Meta aims for dominance with a projected 500 million users by 2024.
- New language support includes Tagalog, Thai, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.
On 9 October 2024, Meta unveiled its new artificial intelligence competitor to ChatGPT in the United Kingdom. The product is part of a broader rollout strategy that sees its implementation across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Significantly, Meta AI is offered completely free, diverging from the common industry model of limited free versions with paid premium tiers.
Meta AI differentiates itself further by adhering to an open-source approach. This strategic decision underscores Meta’s commitment to accessible AI technology, setting them apart from more closed models, and potentially catalysing innovation amongst developers and users alike.
In tandem with its UK release, Meta AI launched in several South American nations such as Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Paraguay. This was accompanied by an expansion into the Philippines, signifying Meta’s strategic push towards quickly capturing a broad user base.
Further enhancing its global appeal, Meta announced forthcoming launches in 15 additional countries, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Moreover, the introduction of new languages, including Tagalog, Thai, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Indonesian, demonstrates Meta’s dedication to inclusivity and wider accessibility.
Meta’s ambitions are unambiguous as it seeks to become the leading AI tool, targeting nearly 500 million monthly active users by the close of 2024. Through widespread deployment and comprehensive language support, Meta AI is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global tech landscape.
Meta’s AI launch signals a major step in its quest for global AI market leadership.