Meta’s Strategy to Develop AI Voice Assistants with Celebrity Voices

Meta’s Ambitious Plans for AI Voice Assistants

Meta, the tech giant behind popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is currently engaged in discussions with a range of high-profile actors and influencers, including the likes of Awkwafina and Judi Dench, to potentially license their voices for a new digital assistant product known as MetaAI. These conversations are part of Meta’s broader strategy to enhance its offerings in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

According to three sources familiar with the negotiations, the company is also in talks with comedian Keegan-Michael Key and other prominent celebrities. These individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the discussions. Notably, all of Hollywood’s major talent agencies are reportedly involved in these negotiations, indicating the level of interest and potential investment associated with Meta’s project.

While the talks are still in their early stages and the outcome remains uncertain, should an agreement be reached, it is expected that Meta could disburse millions of dollars in fees to these actors. A spokesperson for Meta declined to provide any comments on the matter, although the discussions were previously reported by Bloomberg.

Meta has significantly invested in artificial intelligence as part of a competitive strategy to lead in this domain, where numerous tech companies are racing to innovate. The firm has allocated billions towards integrating AI technologies into its social media platforms and advertising services. This includes the development of AI-driven characters capable of engaging in text-based conversations within its messaging applications.

On a recent occasion, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced an increase in the company’s budget for AI and other related expenses for the current year, raising it from $30 billion to a staggering $37 billion. Zuckerberg emphasized a proactive approach, stating he prefers to build “too fast rather than too late” in order to maintain a competitive edge in the AI landscape.

One particularly exciting area of AI that is gaining traction is the development of chatbots with voice capabilities, functioning as virtual assistants. In May, OpenAI, a leading name in the AI sector, introduced a new version of its popular ChatGPT chatbot, which can now respond to voice commands and interpret images and videos. This innovation is part of a larger movement aimed at merging conversational chatbots with voice assistants, such as the Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.