Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to capitalize on its unique generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology by December, following in the footsteps of Google in finding practical applications for this cutting-edge tech. For over a decade, Meta has been investing in artificial intelligence and boasts one of the world’s leading research institutes, with a large organization dedicated to research. While Meta had previously announced its intentions to establish a new organization for the development of generative AI in February, this is the first time it has provided a timeline for commercialization.
Meta’s generative AI technology has the ability to instantly create sentences and graphics, providing a potential boost to the effectiveness of advertisements by guiding advertisers on the tools to use. Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, explains that instead of a company relying on a single image for an advertising campaign, they can now “ask the AI, ‘Make images for my company that work for different audiences.’ And it can save a lot of time and money.” Advertising plays a significant role in Meta’s revenue, and the company aims to eventually integrate this technology into all its products and services, including Facebook and Instagram.
Additionally, Meta plans to utilize this technology in the development of the metaverse, a highly realistic virtual space it is actively working on. Bosworth highlights that in the past, creating a 3D world would require extensive knowledge of computer graphics and programming. However, with generative AI, one could potentially describe the desired world and have the large language model generate it, making content creation more accessible to a wider range of people.
While generative AI holds great promise for increased efficiency across various tasks, concerns persist regarding humanity’s control over this technology. The Future of Life Institute, a U.S.-based nonprofit, launched a petition in March calling for a six-month pause in the development of this technology, gaining support from notable figures such as Elon Musk. However, Bosworth emphasizes the importance of responsible development and investment, stating that understanding technology’s evolution is crucial for protecting and ensuring its safety. He believes that pausing development would not only be unrealistic but also ineffective.
In the realm of AI research, both Meta and Google are at the forefront, publishing numerous studies. Meta established an AI research lab in 2013, bringing onboard Yann LeCun, a renowned French scientist and expert in the field. According to Zeta Alpha, an AI research analysis platform based in the Netherlands, Meta ranked second only to Google in terms of citations in major AI studies published in 2022.
Bosworth asserts that Meta remains at the cutting edge of generative AI technology and anticipates the commercialization of some of these advancements this year. The company recently formed the generative AI team, which is currently engrossed in their work. It is likely the area where Bosworth, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Chief Product Officer Chris Cox spend the most of their time.
In conclusion, Meta is gearing up to commercialize its proprietary generative AI technology by December, allowing for instantaneous creation of sentences and graphics. This technology will find applications in advertising and the metaverse, with Meta aiming to incorporate it into all its products and services, including Facebook and Instagram. The company is committed to maintaining its position at the forefront of generative AI technology.
