Social media giant explores character-based AI amid industry competition and shifting user trends.
Meta, the tech conglomerate behind Facebook, is reportedly preparing to debut a series of AI-driven chatbots featuring unique personas—one inspired by former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, according to the Financial Times.
The upcoming launch, expected as early as next month, may also include a chatbot with a surfer-style personality designed to offer travel tips. The details were shared by an unnamed individual familiar with Meta’s internal plans.
As the AI race heats up with competitors like Apple and Microsoft, Meta continues to pour resources into artificial intelligence. In July, it made waves by releasing its large language model, Llama 2, as open source—an effort CEO Mark Zuckerberg says will enhance safety and innovation through transparency.
The timing of these AI innovations coincides with Meta’s efforts to regain momentum on Threads, its Twitter-style platform. Although it had a record-breaking start, the app has since lost more than half of its initial users.
Meta has not issued an official response regarding the AI chatbot development. Nonetheless, the company recently reported a solid rebound in advertising revenue after a turbulent period marked by massive layoffs affecting over 21,000 employees.
Other companies are also riding the trend of personality-based AI. Startups like Character.AI, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, are developing chatbots that mimic public figures and fictional characters, such as Elon Musk and Nintendo’s Mario.
