This week was Meta’s Connect 202, where the owner of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads hosted a show-and-tell with the tech press. What makes Meta so important in the AI conversation is the company’s reach and its strategy.
Meta’s reach of over 3 billion users worldwide across five of the world’s most-used communications platforms means that when Meta decides to add a feature, a majority of the world’s online population will encounter it.
So even if most people may never use Meta’s AI glasses or open a ChatGPT window, users will be exposed to AI when they upload a photo to Facebook or a video to Instagram.
This widespread exposure to AI through such accessible platforms underscores Meta’s pivotal role in making AI an integral part of the digital landscape, whether users realize it or not.
Important Announcements at Meta Connect 2024
* Devices, Devices, Devices
Meta is continuing to increase its focus on AI-wear. Not only did they announce upgrades to their Quest goggles and their RayBan glasses, Meta’s presentation was highlighted by a new line of eyewear: the Orion augmented reality glasses. These thick-rimmed glasses are a hybrid of the glasses and goggles — eyewear you can wear as you’re walking down the street that integrate Meta.AI and popup windows inside your field of vision. Although select VIPs have been given preview models, no timeline for general market release has been announced. Details
* Image Editing Comes to Meta.AI
Meta.AI has added photo editing capabilities, where users can modify images by adding or removing objects or changing backgrounds. This AI technology is also being tested for use in Instagram Stories, where it can generate backgrounds based on shared images. Details
* AI Lip Syncing / Dubbing Allows for Language Translation on Videos
Meta is further expanding its AI features, including translation tools for Facebook and Instagram Reels with automatic dubbing and lip-syncing, and aims to become the most-used AI assistant globally by the end of 2024. Details
* New Voice Mode Arrives With A-List Voices
Earlier ChatGPT and Google Gemini previewed and launched Voice AI, where users can converse with the AI engine in a natural manner. Meta announced this feature this week. Their twist? They’ve paid celebrities millions for their likenesses to use as the voices. So, you can pretend you’re conversing with Kristen Bell, Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, or Keegan-Michael Key.
Originally published by Jacobs Media
