Meta, formerly known as Facebook, announced Thursday that it will launch its generative AI assistant, Meta AI, in the European Union starting “this week.” This comes more than a year after the service debuted in the US.
Meta to Launch Generative AI Assistant in the EU
“We wish it had taken less time to bring our AI technology to Europe, but navigating the region’s complex regulatory landscape delayed the process. However, we are pleased to finally be here,” the company stated.
As per reports, Meta AI will begin its rollout across 41 European nations this week. Initially unveiled in the US in September 2023, Meta AI expanded to the company’s suite of applications in April 2024.
In contrast to the US version, which includes image generation, the EU version will focus on text-only responses to user queries. It will also utilize web search to provide more detailed answers.
The AI assistant is designed to enhance conversations, enabling users to dive deeper into topics, ask for “how-to” guidance, or resolve issues like trip planning.
Developing large language models (LLMs) like Meta AI requires access to vast amounts of data, which is heavily regulated in the European Union, particularly concerning individual user information. The EU version of the bot was not trained using data from EU users.
Meta had previously delayed the launch of its AI in Europe, citing uncertainties about how authorities might interpret the region’s complex regulations around data protection, AI, and digital markets. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, highlighted in an August op-ed with Spotify’s Daniel Ek that Europe’s regulatory framework is “fragmented and inconsistent.”
Now, Meta appears to have resolved these regulatory challenges and is moving forward with its rollout in 41 European countries across six languages.
As AI remains a top priority for Meta, the company plans to invest $60-65 billion this year, with a significant portion dedicated to building the data centers, servers, and infrastructure necessary to develop advanced AI models.
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