In a recent interview, Dan Milmo, Global Technology Editor, discussed the launch of Meta’s new artificial intelligence assistant in the UK amidst growing privacy concerns. He highlighted that the assistant is also integrated into the £299 Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, which have gained popularity thanks to Mark Zuckerberg’s promotion.
“Meta’s AI assistant is not just a tool; it’s a fully-fledged platform for creativity,” Milmo explained. “Right now, users in the UK and Brazil can generate text and images directly through Meta’s social media platforms, following its initial rollout in the US and Australia.”
When asked about the delays in the UK launch, Milmo mentioned that regulatory challenges and the need for extensive product testing were significant factors. “Interestingly, Meta’s AI services are still unavailable in the EU, primarily due to a very unpredictable regulatory environment,” he added.
For those eager to experience this new feature, Milmo revealed that Facebook and Instagram users in the UK can access the Meta AI chatbot by simply tapping an icon in their app or by purchasing the Ray-Ban Meta frames. Recently, Zuckerberg showcased these sunglasses at a corporate event, unveiling several exciting features, including voice command responses and the ability to mimic celebrity voices like those of Judi Dench and John Cena. However, it’s important to note that the celebrity voice feature won’t be available in the UK at this time.
Milmo emphasized Meta’s vision for this rollout, saying, “They believe this will empower people to get answers, brainstorm ideas, and easily share creations with both local networks and the global community.”
He also addressed the controversy surrounding privacy issues. “Social media users have begun to push back against Meta using their posts to train AI tools, evident from viral posts with messages like ‘Goodbye Meta AI!’ shared by public figures like James McAvoy and Tom Brady. Unfortunately, there are still many misunderstandings about privacy rights.”
For UK users wanting to prevent Meta from using their content from Facebook and Instagram, Milmo stated they would need to fill out an objection form available in their app’s privacy settings. However, he pointed out that while users can protect their posts, they cannot completely block interactions with the AI from being utilized to train the Llama model.
In closing, Milmo noted Meta’s recent advancements in AI technology with the introduction of a model called Movie Gen, which is capable of generating realistic video and audio clips based on user prompts. “Although it sounds incredible, and similar to OpenAI’s Sora video model, Movie Gen isn’t available to the public just yet,” he added.
