Meta AI Expands Globally, Launching in Six New Countries Including Brazil and the UK

Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has taken another massive leap in its pursuit of AI-driven innovation. On October 9, 2024, the company rolled out its AI chatbot, Meta AI, to six new countries—Brazil, the UK, the Philippines, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Guatemala—marking an ambitious new chapter in Meta's global expansion. This launch enables millions more users to experience Meta AI’s features across various platforms, including social media and even smart glasses.

With this expansion, Meta is intensifying its presence in international markets and positioning itself as a serious competitor in the growing global AI landscape. But what does this mean for users, and what’s next for Meta AI? Let’s take a deep dive into this important development and explore Meta’s broader AI strategy.

Meta AI’s Features and Availability

Meta AI isn’t just another chatbot; it's an AI-powered personal assistant integrated across Meta's social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. This feature allows users to perform a range of tasks, from getting creative inspiration to solving daily challenges. Whether you’re looking to find an outfit-of-the-day idea, explore how-tos, or delve into in-depth research, Meta AI is designed to assist users in their day-to-day activities.

How to Use Meta AI

For users, accessing Meta AI is straightforward. You can simply:

• Tap the Meta AI icon available in apps like Messenger and WhatsApp.
• Type "@Meta AI" in group chats or direct messages to start interacting.
• Access Meta AI via web platforms, including the official Meta AI website, offering a seamless experience across devices.

Notably, Meta AI will also be integrated into Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, a cutting-edge product designed to enhance the user's experience on the go. In the UK, for example, users can interact with Meta AI via voice commands through their glasses, though full functionality is yet to roll out. In Australia, similar features are being launched.

Global Expansion Plans

The current rollout to Brazil, the UK, and four other countries is just the beginning. Meta plans to extend Meta AI’s reach to 43 countries by the end of 2024, including many in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Some of the upcoming markets include:

• Algeria
• Egypt
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Libya
• Malaysia
• Morocco
• Saudi Arabia
• Vietnam

The sheer scale of this expansion reflects Meta’s ambition to dominate the global AI assistant market. The company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has previously expressed confidence that Meta AI could become the world’s most widely used AI assistant by the end of the year, driven by an expected 500 million monthly active users. This goal is not far-fetched, considering Meta's ecosystem already reaches billions of people globally through its social media platforms.

Language Support and Localization

One of the critical factors in ensuring the success of AI systems like Meta AI is language support. The AI assistant will not only be expanding geographically but also linguistically. As of now, Meta AI supports seven languages, including Hindi, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines) joining the lineup following the October 2024 launch.

In the coming weeks, Arabic, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese will be added as Meta aims to provide localized experiences that cater to the linguistic diversity of its global user base. Offering localized language support will make Meta AI more accessible to non-English speaking audiences, which is crucial in markets where English is not the dominant language.

Current Supported Languages	Upcoming Languages
Hindi	Arabic
French	Indonesian
German	Thai
Italian	Vietnamese
Portuguese
Spanish

Why the European Union is Missing Out

While Meta AI is rapidly expanding in other regions, one notable omission is the European Union (EU). Due to stringent data privacy regulations and an unpredictable regulatory landscape, Meta has yet to introduce Meta AI in EU countries.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) presents significant hurdles for companies like Meta that collect and process vast amounts of user data to improve AI models. These regulatory challenges have delayed Meta AI’s debut in the EU, even though the company is eager to expand in this critical market. Zuckerberg has openly critiqued the EU’s regulatory approach, suggesting that these regulations may stifle innovation.

Privacy Concerns and Data Usage

Meta AI, like many AI-driven services, has faced scrutiny over its use of user data. The company has confirmed that interactions with Meta AI will be used to train its AI models. In countries like Australia, Meta openly admits to using public content from Facebook and Instagram to improve its AI systems, including its large language model, LLaMA.

This has raised concerns among privacy advocates, who question the transparency and control that users have over how their data is used. Unlike other services, Meta does not currently offer an opt-out mechanism for users who do not wish to contribute their data to train AI models. Despite these concerns, Meta remains committed to integrating AI deeply into its platform, with data serving as the lifeblood of its development efforts.

The Future of Meta AI: What’s Next?

Meta’s AI assistant is not just a side project; it's at the center of the company's vision for the future. In addition to scaling globally and adding new languages, Meta has hinted at further enhancements to Meta AI’s capabilities. One exciting development is the integration of celebrity voices into the assistant, with voices such as Judi Dench, John Cena, and Keegan-Michael Key planned for future releases. This feature could make interacting with Meta AI feel more personalized and engaging for users.

Meta is also betting heavily on the intersection of AI and hardware. The launch of Ray-Ban smart glasses with Meta AI integration shows that Meta envisions a future where users will interact with AI seamlessly, not just on screens but in the real world.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded into the fabric of Meta’s ecosystem, the company's strategy is clear: it wants to lead the way in AI-driven social interactions, offering users tools that feel intuitive and helpful in their everyday lives.

Meta AI’s Potential

Meta’s global expansion of its AI assistant marks a pivotal moment not only for the company but for the future of AI-driven technologies. By making Meta AI available in six new countries, and with plans to reach over 40 by year’s end, Meta is setting the stage for a new era of personalized, AI-enhanced social media experiences.

With nearly 500 million monthly active users, Meta AI is already proving to be a game changer. But the road ahead will likely be shaped by how well the company navigates regulatory challenges, addresses privacy concerns, and continues to innovate.

The future is looking bright for Meta AI, and as it spreads to more countries and more devices, it’s clear that Meta is in this for the long haul.

For more details on Meta AI’s global rollout, visit Techopedia or Engadget.