Dame Judi Dench and John Cena to voice Meta AI chatbot

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has announced that Dame Judi Dench and John Cena will lend their voices to its latest artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. In addition to these star-studded options, users will also have the opportunity to interact with AI versions of Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell.

This move comes after Meta’s previous attempt at integrating celebrity personalities into its chatbots, which ended less than a year after its launch. In September 2023, the company introduced AI chatbots modeled after celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Snoop Dogg but quickly decided to discontinue the service.

During the company’s annual Connect conference, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared insights into the company’s renewed focus on celebrity chatbots. “I think that voice is going to be a way more natural way of interacting with AI than text,” he remarked, highlighting a shift in how users might engage with artificial intelligence.

The new chatbot will feature a variety of functionalities, including the ability to recognize objects in photographs and provide information about them. Additionally, an image editing feature will enable users to request specific changes to their photos by simply communicating their desires to the Meta AI.

According to Meta, the platform has seen impressive engagement, with over 400 million users accessing Meta AI monthly and 185 million returning on a weekly basis. This level of usage indicates a significant interest in the AI offerings, which the company hopes will enhance user experience and retention.

Alongside the chatbot announcement, Zuckerberg unveiled a prototype of Meta’s new augmented-reality (AR) glasses, named Orion. He noted, “A lot of people have said this is the craziest technology they’ve ever seen.” The Orion glasses will allow users to interact using hand-tracking, voice commands, and a wrist-based interface, showcasing Meta’s commitment to advancing AR technology.

In addition, Meta introduced a more affordable version of its Quest mixed-reality headsets, with the new Quest 3S starting at $300 (£225). This move aims to broaden access to mixed-reality experiences as the tech giant competes in a market where many leading firms are developing AR glasses, yet few have achieved commercial success.

Meta’s investment in AI and AR technologies has been substantial, with the company pouring billions of dollars into these areas in recent years. For 2024, Meta anticipates spending as much as $40 billion on new projects, marking a record high for the firm.

Before the Connect conference, Meta’s shares closed at a record high of $568.31, reflecting the company’s growing stock market value, which has surged more than 60% since the beginning of the year. This impressive performance showcases investor confidence in Meta’s long-term vision for the metaverse and its technology innovations.

However, leading up to the event, a false narrative circulated among Facebook and Instagram users, including various celebrities, claiming that individuals needed to repost a specific Stories post to prevent Meta from using their content to train its AI tools. High-profile figures like James McAvoy and Tom Brady were among those who inadvertently promoted the hoax.

A Meta spokesperson clarified that users can object to the use of their content only by submitting a formal objection via a designated form. This form can be accessed by clicking on a notification sent to users about Meta’s plans or by visiting the privacy center in their account settings.

As Meta moves forward with its AI initiatives, the integration of celebrity voices into its chatbot represents a novel approach aimed at enhancing user engagement. By leveraging recognizable figures, Meta hopes to create a more relatable and interactive experience for its users. The combination of voice technology, enhanced image recognition, and AR capabilities positions Meta as a key player in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and virtual experiences.