Meta's AI chatbot now sounds like John Cena, Awkwafina
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced a new feature for its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. The update allows users to interact with the AI in celebrity voices, on platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. This was revealed at Meta's Connect 2024 event. The initial roll-out of this feature will be exclusive to US users of Meta's apps.
Celebrity voices and non-celebrity options
The new feature includes voices that resemble celebrities such as Awkwafina, John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, Kristen Bell, and Dame Judi Dench. For those who prefer a less distinctive voice, Meta also offers non-celebrity options with names like "Aspen," "Atlas," or "Clover." This move by Meta follows similar initiatives by Google and OpenAI to provide conversational experiences using AI technology.
Meta's celebrity partnerships and financial agreements
Unlike OpenAI's approach of creating an AI voice that coincidentally sounds like Scarlett Johansson, Meta has openly announced partnerships with celebrities. The specifics of these collaborations have not been disclosed by the company. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that each celebrity has been paid "millions of dollars" for their voices. During negotiations, some celebrities reportedly sought to restrict what their voices could say and ensure they were not liable if Meta AI was misused.
Meta's AI chatbot can now answer questions about photos
In addition to voice conversations, Meta's AI chatbot has been updated to "answer questions about your photos." For instance, if a user uploads a picture of a cake and asks how to make it, the chatbot will provide a recipe. Users can also request modifications to their images by describing what they want "added, changed, or removed," and the AI will execute that request.
