Imagine chatting with friends on WhatsApp, Messenger, or Instagram when you suddenly get a message from a cheerful AI chatbot asking about your favourite film soundtracks or offering movie night suggestions. This is not a distant concept but something Meta is already testing. Documents seen by Business Insider reveal that Meta is working with a data labelling firm called Alignerr to train AI bots that can proactively message users and even follow up on previous chats, giving these bots a more personal and persistent presence.
These chatbots are being developed within Meta’s AI Studio, allowing users to customise and share them through direct links, stories, or on their profiles. The bots are programmed to follow up within 14 days of a user-initiated conversation, but only if the user has sent at least five messages within that time. Meta says this feature helps create deeper and more meaningful exchanges across its apps, although users will not be bombarded with follow-ups if they ignore the initial response.
This new effort puts Meta in line with other AI companies like Character.AI and Replika, which also allow their bots to initiate conversations and serve as digital companions. Interestingly, Character.AI’s new CEO, Karandeep Anand, is a former Meta executive, highlighting how the talent pool in this AI space often overlaps. However, the potential for stronger engagement also brings risks. One AI firm is currently facing a lawsuit related to a teenager’s death, allegedly linked to interactions with one of its bots.
To manage safety concerns, Meta includes several disclaimers. These stress that AI-generated replies might be inaccurate or unsuitable and should never be considered professional advice. They warn users not to rely on AI chats for anything medical, legal, financial, or psychological. Questions have also been raised about age restrictions, particularly as Meta has not publicly disclosed any global age limits for interacting with these bots, even though some local laws in places like Tennessee and Puerto Rico restrict younger users. While Meta claims its mission is to tackle loneliness, critics argue that the real driver behind these efforts is advertising revenue. Documents unsealed earlier this year suggest Meta expects to earn up to $3 billion from its generative AI products in 2025, potentially growing to $1.4 trillion by 2035. A significant part of that would likely come from partnerships tied to its Llama models. Though Meta has not confirmed plans for ads or subscriptions within its AI chatbots, the commercial potential is clear. The question now is whether users will embrace these bots as helpful companions or see them as just another way to keep them online longer.
