Meta is Integrating its AI Chatbot into Instagram Direct Messages

A Fresh Face on Instagram: Meta AI Chatbot

Hey, did you catch the buzz on Friday? Folks cruising the digital waves stumbled upon a nifty update on Instagram – enter Meta AI. Yep, that’s Meta’s own AI-powered chatbot, in the limelight for its cool tricks like answering queries, crafting poetry, and conjuring up images with just a simple nudge of text. Seems like Meta just can’t surprise us enough, huh? They unwrapped Meta AI back in September 2023 and have been busy weaving this tech wizard into platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. So, spotting it on Instagram? Pretty much expected.

Not Everyone’s in on the Secret…Yet

Chats with a Meta spokesperson hinted that they’re still in the lab with their generative AI-powered goodies, public testing some of these creations on the down-low. TechCrunch caught wind of this first, pointing out that Meta AI was playing peek-a-boo in Instagram’s search bar. But for some of us team members at Engadget, we found this clever bot hiding in a corner of Instagram’s DM search bar.

Chatting with a Bot Just Got Real

You know how you’d shoot a message to a buddy? That’s pretty much how kicking off a convo with Meta AI feels. I had a blast asking it to define words, pitch headlines for my stories, and even whip up some images of dogs skateboarding. Craving for some cat action in Reels? Meta AI had me covered in no time.

But here’s the kicker: when my colleague Aaron gave Meta AI a whirl in WhatsApp asking for Reels recommendations, the bot dished out some right there. This kinda hints that the bot isn’t doing anything Instagram-specific. It’s more like Meta’s playing mix and match with the same chatbot across its family of apps.

Dive deeper into the bot’s menu, and you’re greeted with a laundry list of things you can ask the bot to do. From debating cardio vs. weights to travel hacks on using points, it’s like opening a Pandora’s box of possibilities.

Meta AI will present a list of actions you can ask the bot to take.

Why You’d Want a Bot for Everything and Anything

I’m not exactly sure why you’d need an Instagram bot to advise on dodging credit card debt, spark a fitness debate, or unravel travel hacks. But hey, if that floats your boat, Meta AI is game.

So, what’s the verdict? Is having a chatbot like this lurking in every nook and cranny of our favorite apps pushing the frontier of innovation or just Meta’s way of making sure its AI companion becomes our new best friend? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – navigating the digital world just got a tad more intriguing.

Scroll to Top