Meta trials its AI chatbot across WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger in India and Africa

Meta has confirmed to TechCrunch that it is testing Meta AI, its large language model-powered chatbot, with WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger users in India and parts of Africa.

The move signals how Meta plans to tap massive user bases across its various apps to scale its AI offerings.

The social media giant has been scrambling to roll out more AI services in the wake of big AI moves from other major tech companies, OpenAI and more.

Meta announced plans to build and experiment with chatbots and other AI tools in February 2023. India, where users have recently started noting the appearing of the Meta AI chatbot

is a very important market for the company: It is home to more than 500 million Facebook and WhatsApp users, making it Meta’s largest single market.

Developing markets, where smartphone users are growing faster than developed markets like the U.S. (where growth has plateaued), 

are also a big target for Facebook to try out more services to engage audiences. Users in Africa are also reporting signs of Meta AI appearing in WhatsApp.

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