Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced the long-awaited introduction of its artificial intelligence (AI) features in the European Union. After months of delays due to regulatory challenges, the company is rolling out its AI-powered chatbot in six European languages as the first step toward a broader expansion. Meta stated that over time, it aims to offer the same range of AI capabilities as in the United States, though no specific timeline was provided.
Meta AI was first launched in the U.S. in 2023. However, the company’s efforts to introduce its AI tools in the EU faced obstacles last year when Ireland’s data protection authority opposed the use of publicly available Facebook and Instagram posts to train the AI system. AI chatbots require vast amounts of data for learning, and Meta had argued that incorporating content from EU users would help optimize the AI for European-specific needs.
The AI assistant will be available for free across Meta’s suite of apps, including WhatsApp and Messenger. The rollout is set to begin this week in 41 European countries.
In the U.S., Meta AI includes advanced multimodal capabilities integrated into the company’s smart glasses. This technology allows the AI to process both visual and audio information. The glasses feature a built-in camera, enabling users to ask the AI about their surroundings in real time.
