Meta AI Launches in Europe with Limited Features Amid Regulatory Challenges

Meta AI is finally coming to the EU, but with limitations | TechCrunch

Amid an ongoing regulatory battle with European privacy authorities, Meta announced on Thursday that its AI-powered virtual assistant, Meta AI, is finally launching in the European Union. The chatbot-like tool will be rolled out across Meta's portfolio of social platforms, albeit with a more limited feature set compared to what it offers in its domestic U.S. market. Separately, Meta also confirmed to TechCrunch that Meta AI will be arriving in WhatsApp in the U.K., having so far been limited to Facebook, Instagram, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses since its launch there in October. Meta AI has been available in the U.S. since 2023, serving as an AI assistant capable of not just chatting and answering questions, but generating images, creating stylistic selfies, among other creative wonders. These features aren't yet available in the European version. Last month, a chat-based version of Meta AI also landed in a handful of countries across the Middle East and Africa. And now, starting this week, Meta AI will be rolling out to all 27 EU countries, plus an additional 14 European countries (and 21 overseas territories) including Iceland, Norway, Serbia, and Switzerland. As well as being able to chat one-to-one with the assistant across Meta's various apps, Meta AI will be made available in group chats, too, although the launch will be staggered -- with the feature slated to appear first on WhatsApp, in both the EU and -- as noted already -- the U.K. The EU launch of Meta AI marks the latest effort by Facebook's parent company to spread its AI across the bloc in the face of regulatory concerns about tapping user data to train AI models. While Meta has been training its AI on user-generated content in the U.S. for years, the tech giant (among others) has faced pushback in the EU due to the bloc's comprehensive privacy regulations -- including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) -- which mean it needs to have a valid legal basis to process people's information to train AI models. Despite these challenges, last May Meta began notifying regional users of an upcoming privacy policy change that informed them it would start using content from their comments, interactions, status updates, photos and captions for AI training. The company argued that this data processing was necessary for its AI model to reflect "the diverse languages, geography and cultural references of the people in Europe." However, in June, Meta was compelled to put these plans on ice following scrutiny by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), Meta's lead data protection regulator in the EU, which raised concerns about the way Meta was soliciting consent from users to process their data. In short, Meta had implemented an onerous opt-out process (meaning users had to take action to prevent their data becoming AI training fodder) rather than a simple opt-in -- with the company relying on a GDPR legal basis known as "legitimate interests," claiming its actions were compliant with the law. However the DPC disagreed and Meta was forced to rethink its approach. The company confirmed to TechCrunch that the version of the AI assistant it's launching in the EU has not been trained on local users' data -- hence why it said it won't be notifying users or otherwise seeking their consent, since it claims the technology has not been trained on their information. "The model powering these Meta AI features wasn't trained on first-party data from users in the EU," Anna Dack, Meta's innovation communications manager, EMEA, told TechCrunch. Meta initially faced similar regulatory concerns in the U.K., which (since Brexit) sits outside the EU -- but does still have a data protection regime that's based on the GDPR. Last summer, the U.K.'s Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) asked Meta to pause its AI training plans over concerns about how it was helping itself to user data. But after the company adjusted its opt-out process, making it mildly less onerous, Meta went on to launch Meta AI in the U.K. -- without explicit objection from the U.K. regulator, though the ICO said it would "monitor the situation". When asked if Meta's AI efforts were yet trained on U.K. users' data, a spokesperson directed TechCrunch to its announcement post back in September, where it said that it will begin training its models on user content "in the coming months," suggesting that it's not yet ready for the public stage. For now, Meta AI in the EU will be limited to what the company bills as an "intelligent chat function" in six European languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Italian. As it stands, the tool is basically a chatbot baked into Meta's various apps, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook itself. How it works is you tap a little blue circle icon to summon the assistant, and ask it any question that you might ask in a search engine, such as how to carry out a task, or to find out information on a topic. As noted above, the feature will also be landing in group chats but this launch is being staggered -- starting with WhatsApp, before expanding to Messenger and Instagram Direct Messaging "soon." Users will be able to call on the assistant by typing "@MetaAI", and then asking a question -- for example, where to go for dinner, or the top tourist attraction in a given city. While Meta says in its announcement that Meta AI has "an advanced understanding of what you're looking for," it says this is not in reference to any kind of personalized suggestions based on the user's data; the marketing claim is merely in the context of searching for content more easily and intuitively, it suggests. However, the company does stress that this launch represents its "first step" in its efforts to bring more AI to Europe, and that it plans to eventually "find parity with the U.S." over time. What this likely means is more tussles between Meta -- which has been critical of Europe's AI regulations -- and EU regulators. TechCrunch reached out to the DPC to ask for its response to the Meta AI for EU announcement. "The DPC, as Lead Supervisory Authority for Meta, has been examining Meta AI over recent months with our colleague Supervisory Authorities across the EU/EEA and we will keep it under review as it rolls-out to users over the coming weeks," a spokesperson told us.

Meta AI Finally Arrives in Europe, Overcoming Regulatory Hurdles

Katie a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor Swift correspondent. You can also find her writing about tech for good, ethics and human rights, the climate crisis, robots, travel and digital culture. She was once described a "living synth" by London's Evening Standard for having a microchip injected into her hand. Meta AI finally arrived in Europe on Thursday, eight months after the Facebook owner announced it would delay the launch of the artificial intelligence tool due to regulatory issues. In addition to 41 European countries, Meta AI will also roll out in 21 overseas territories, marking the service's most significant international expansion to date. Meta AI is already available through several platforms in the UK, including Instagram, but it will now also be available within the popular messaging service WhatsApp. The multimodal, multilingual AI assistant sits inside Meta's apps, allowing you to call on it for various tasks, such as curating content relevant to a trip you're taking or brainstorming plans within a group chat. As part of Meta AI's EU expansion, the assistant's chat function will also be available in six new European languages. Given that Meta AI launched in the US in September 2023, Europeans have endured a significant wait to be able to enjoy the same AI experiences on Facebook and Messenger as their friends across the Atlantic. But Meta is far from the only company that has had trouble grappling with how European regulations affect the rollout of AI tools. Apple Intelligence is still unavailable in EU countries, although the company has said a Europe-wide release is scheduled for April. Both companies have struggled with the regulatory environment in Europe, which prioritizes people's data privacy (making it harder to train models) and leveling the playing field between tech giants and smaller companies. Both Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg have been vocal about how slow EU regulators have been in allowing the company to move ahead with a European Meta AI. Zuckerberg said last December that it was "sad" that Europeans were being left behind. Nevertheless, the company has persevered and has now reached a point where it's confident it can launch Meta AI in the region while complying with the rules. "We have been working to find a way to bring Meta AI to the EU in a way that complies with Europe's fragmented and unpredictable regulatory system," a Meta spokesperson said. "This launch follows almost a year of intensive engagement with various European regulators and for now, we are only offering a text-only model in the region which wasn't trained on first-party data from users in the EU." The spokesperson added that the company will continue to collaborate with regulators so that people in Europe "have access to and are properly served by Meta's AI innovations that are already available to the rest of the world."

Meta AI is rolling out in Europe after all

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Meta is bringing its AI chatbot to Europe almost one year after pausing its launch in the region. Starting this week, Meta AI will roll out across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger in 41 European countries and 21 overseas territories -- but it will be limited to text-based chat features for now. Meta AI launched in the US in 2023. While the company intended to bring the assistant to Europe, Meta had to pause the rollout in the region after Ireland's privacy watchdog asked it to delay training on content posted by Facebook and Instagram users. It also halted the launch of its multimodal Llama AI model in the European Union due to regulatory concerns. For now, Meta says its AI assistant will only function as a chatbot for users in Europe, helping to brainstorm ideas, plan a trip, or answer specific questions using information from the web. European users will also be able to use Meta AI to surface certain kinds of content on their Instagram feed. However, they can't use the tool to do things like generate or edit images, as well as ask questions about a photo. The model isn't trained on EU user data, either. "This launch follows almost a year of intensive engagement with various European regulators and for now, we are only offering a text-only model in the region which wasn't trained on first-party data from users in the EU," Meta spokesperson Ellie Heatrick tells The Verge. "We will continue to work collaboratively with regulators so that people in Europe have access to and are properly served by Meta's AI innovations that are already available to the rest of the world." Last November, Meta started bringing some of its AI features to its Ray-Bans smart glasses in the EU, but the glasses currently don't support multimodal features that let users ask Meta AI about what they can see. It doesn't seem like Meta is giving up on plans to bring more features to the European version of Meta AI, as the company says it will work to "find parity with the US and expand our offering over time."

Meta AI is coming to Europe this week

Meta previously paused its rollout plans due to European regulations around artificial intelligence. Meta is rolling out its AI assistant across 41 European countries, including to members of the European Union, starting this week. It will also extend its access to 21 overseas European territories. In its announcement, Meta said that it has taken the company longer to bring its AI technology to European users as it continues to "navigate its complex regulatory system." The company was planning to make its AI technology available in the region last year, but it had to put its plans on pause after the Irish Data Protection Commission asked it to delay training its Large Language Models on content posted by adult European users on Facebook and Instagram. A month after the Irish regulator's request, Meta said that it wasn't going to release its new multimodal Llama models in the region "due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment." Meta will start its AI rollout in Europe by incorporating the technology into its messaging apps across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which will soon show a blue circle on their interface. It will be available in six languages from the region and will have limited capabilities that revolve around text queries for now, but the company says it hopes to expand its AI's offering over time until its finds "parity with the US." European users will be able to call Meta AI in group chats by typing @MetaAI followed by their prompt or question. Users will also be able to use the chatbot to surface relevant posts and Reels by typing in queries, such as "show me Vancouver Island content." They will be able to look up information from all over the web within the chatbot, as well.

Meta Rolls Out AI Assistant Across Europe

Meta has announced the rollout of its AI chatbot across Europe starting this week. The AI assistant will appear across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger platforms in 41 European and 21 overseas territories. Meta AI launched in the United States in 2023, but the company paused a planned rollout in Europe due to regulatory concerns. Meta's AI suite of features offer users several capabilities, but Europe is only getting the text-based assistant in six languages for now. The company said it plans to "find parity with the US" and expand its AI offering over time. No more hopping from tab to tab to find the information or content you need! Meta AI will now make it easier to discover content that is relevant to you and your interests. With an advanced understanding of what you're looking for, you can now use Meta AI to generate results across a range of content - from reels or posts from your friends and followers. Planning a holiday to Canada and need some inspiration? Simply type "show me Vancouver Island content" and kickstart your wanderlust. Our Meta AI chat feature will also include access to information from the web, making it an easy and efficient way to get the information you need all in one place - with added context and conversation. The AI chatbot can also be invoked by using "@MetaAI" in group chats, starting with WhatsApp. Meta says the feature will also roll out across Messenger and Instagram Direct Messaging soon. Late last year, Meta added some of the features to its Ray-Ban smart glasses, including live translation and live AI. Soon, the company also plans to release a standalone AI app to compete with products like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Microsoft's Copilot. While Meta AI will be free as it is now, Meta is expected to test a paid subscription service that could have more advanced capabilities.

Meta's AI chatbot is coming to Europe, with limitations

Meta is bringing its AI chatbot to Europe, but some features are missing. In a blog post Thursday, Meta explained that the "complex regulatory system" in Europe prevented it to launch Meta AI there, even though it's been available in the U.S. since 2023. This is now changing. Starting "this week" and "over the coming weeks," Meta AI will start to roll out in 41 European countries. The feature is also launching in 21 other global territories. Meta AI wil be free in Europe and will launch across Meta's portfolio of social apps, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. However, in the beginning, Meta AI will only be available as an intelligent chat function, meaning you'll be able to ask it questions about various topics, get solutions for problems, and plan trips and the like. You won't, however, be able to use Meta AI to generate or edit images. Meta AI will initially be available in six European languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. To try it out, tap on the new, blue circle icon within Meta's apps, or type @MetaAI with a prompt in a chat group. Notably, according to a Meta spokesperson (via CNET), Meta AI wasn't trained on "first-party data from users in the EU." Meta plans to expand its AI features in Europe, and "find parity" with the U.S. over time. Meta is not the only company which had to delay the launch of AI features in Europe. Apple Intelligence, for example, is also late in Europe, even though it's been available for months in the U.S.

Meta AI is coming to Europe after almost a whole year of negotiations

Meta AI has been around in the United States since 2023 but the company had to delay its launch in the EU due to regulatory concerns. Now, it seems like Zuckerberg's team has finally come to a (limited) agreement with European regulators and will be rolling out a version of Meta AI to the EU. It looks like some of the kinks are yet to be ironed out, however, since Europe's version of the product will be fairly limited compared to Meta AI in the United States. It will function as a chatbot only, without any of its Llama-powered multi-modal abilities such as generating images or answering questions about photos. Recommended Videos Instagram users will be able to use the chatbot to bring up certain kinds of posts on their Instagram feed, or simply chat with it to brainstorm ideas. One of the main reasons EU regulatory bodies blocked the launch of Meta AI last year was privacy concerns. Please enable Javascript to view this content The company wanted to use all user content posted and all data collected since 2007 to train its AI -- arguing that it was okay because everyone had chosen to display that information publicly on social media. Unfortunately for Meta, this didn't fly with the EU, leading to the nearly year-long round of talks to resolve the situation. The result is that the European version of Meta AI is not trained on any EU user data at all -- and multi-modal abilities have been removed for now while further negotiations take place. The company has confirmed that it wants to keep talks going and bring more features to its European offering eventually, so the only thing to do is wait for it to happen! For now, the limited version will be available starting this week on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

Meta's AI tool still not cleared for use by EU Commission

MetaAI will be launched across Europe, months after the company faced regulators' questions for the use of personal data to train its AI models. The European Commission is awaiting a risk assessment by Meta to check whether the tech giant's new AI chat function meets obligations under the EU online platform rules, a spokesperson for the Commission told Euronews. The spokesperson said that "certain aspects" of MetaAI fall within the scope of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which sets out standards for safety and transparency. Under the DSA, a company needs to submit risk assessments to the Commission annually but also in advance of deploying new functions. "Once we have received the risk assessment, we will carefully analyse all relevant documents to ensure compliance with the DSA and that the feature does not present any undue risks within the European Union," the spokesperson said. Meta announced last week that it will roll out MetaAI across the EU. It was rolled out in the US in September 2023, followed by India in June 2024, and in the UK in October. Its plan to continue expansion in Europe was halted last summer due to "regulatory unpredictability": the Irish Data Protection Commission told the company to postpone its plan because it planned to use data of adult users of Facebook and Instagram to train its large language models (LLMs). "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system - but we're glad we're finally here," Meta said in a blog post last week. The company - including its CEO Mark Zuckerberg and global policy chief Joel Kaplan - have been critical of Europe's regulatory action against US tech companies, even more so after the new US administration of Republican President Donald Trump took office in January.

Meta rolls out AI tools in EU, despite previous regulatory problems

The Irish data protection authority last year stopped the roll-out after the company wanted to user EU data for training purposes. US tech giant Meta announced on Thursday that it will roll out its AI chat function tool across the EU, despite the plan sparking regulatory questions across Europe. "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system - but we're glad we're finally here," Meta said in a blog post published Thursday. MetaAI rolled out in the US in April last year, followed by India in June, and in the UK in October. Its plan to continue expansion in Europe was halted last summer due to "regulatory unpredictability". The company paused the launch of its AI assistant in Europe after the Irish Data Protection Commission told Meta to postpone its plan to use data of adult users of Facebook and Instagram to train large language models (LLMs). Meta now says that over the coming weeks it will "take the first step in making Meta AI's chat function available in six European languages - English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and German - with a view to find parity with the US and expand our offering over time." MetaAI will be available within Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Messenger. It will allow users for example to ask a question in WhatsApp group chats, or to "discover content that is relevant to their interests". In total, the tool will begin rolling out across 41 European Countries, including those in the EU, as well as 21 Overseas Territories, the company said. Meta's new global policy chief, Joel Kaplan, last month criticised Europe's regulatory action against US tech companies, claiming it is "pushing the continent to the sidelines". Kaplan argued that while a global AI revolution is unfolding, it's important to drive competitiveness and economic growth to open innovation and transatlantic cooperation, and for Europe to look for stronger collaboration with the US and its companies. His comments fit the recent company narrative. In January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about the US election result, claiming that Meta would work with incoming US President Donald Trump to push back on countries that are trying to rein in social media platforms.

Meta AI coming to Europe months on from DPC request

The platform had planned to train its AI models using public content shared by adults on its apps in the EU, before the Irish DPC stepped in. Tech giant Meta has announced it will be launching its AI chatbot Meta AI in Europe, though it will be limited to text-based chat features for now. Meta released its AI features in the US in 2023 but paused the roll-out in Europe after "intensive discussions" with the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) about training its AI models on European data. Meta had intended to train its large language models (LLMs) utilising content pulled from material shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram. After meetings with the Irish watchdog, Meta chose to halt proceedings, but said it was a "step backwards for European innovation, competition in AI development and further delays bringing the benefits of AI to people in Europe". In a blog post yesterday (19 March), Meta said, "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system, but we're glad we're finally here. "Over the coming weeks, we'll take the first step in making Meta AI's chat function available in six European languages, with a view to find parity with the US and expand our offering over time." The features available to consumers in 41 countries in Europe will include an AI chatbot assistant which can answer queries from users of Meta's social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Meta has explained typical examples of how to use it include brainstorming dinner ideas, planning trips or accessing knowledge from the internet. It aims to extend its creative features in the future. In a statement sent to SiliconRepublic.com, the Irish DPC said that as the lead supervisory authority for Meta, it "has been examining Meta AI over recent months with our colleague supervisory authorities across the EU/EEA and we will keep it under review as it rolls out to users over the coming weeks." In September of 2024, members of the Big Tech community signed an open letter criticising the EU's policies around AI regulation. Entrepreneurs, such as Meta's Mark Zuckerburg and Stripe's Patrick Collison, warned that the EU's strict regulations were hampering innovation for the region. In response to the letter, it was noted by Dr Kris Shrishak that the complaining companies could find balance via the EU AI Act. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news. Updated, 9.50am, 20 March 2025: The article has been updated to include a response from the Irish Data Protection Commission.

Meta AI just landed on WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger in Europe

Meta AI has officially launched in Europe and the UK, offering advanced AI-powered chat features to millions of users on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. This rollout enhances conversations with personalized assistance and interactive experiences. It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system - but we're glad we're finally here. Over the coming weeks, we'll take the first step in making Meta AI's chat function available in six European languages, with a view to find parity with the US and expand our offering over time. -Meta Meta AI is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Meta to assist users with various tasks, making chats more engaging and productive. It can help users create itineraries, answer questions, provide recommendations, and engage in casual conversations. The chatbot is integrated within Meta's platforms and utilizes advanced language models like Llama 3.2 for natural interactions. Despite having been available in several global regions, Meta AI faced regulatory challenges in Europe and the UK, specifically due to data privacy concerns under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, the AI chatbot has officially launched in these regions, bringing its capabilities to millions of additional users. Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, announced the availability of Meta AI in Europe and the UK through his official WhatsApp channel. The rollout of the AI will occur over the coming days, allowing more users on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger to enhance their chat experiences with personalized assistance. While Meta AI offers image editing features and the ability to initiate voice sessions with the chatbot, these functionalities will not be available at launch. Meta is actively working to introduce these features in future updates. Users can expect more personalized experiences with Meta AI, which includes tailored recommendations and quicker access to relevant content. The AI aims to provide engaging interactions for activities like trip planning, project advice, or casual chats. This availability of Meta AI will continue to expand as more users update to the latest versions of WhatsApp from the App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android.

Meta AI Is Finally Rolling Out in European Countries

It can be accessed across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger Meta AI is finally rolling out in European countries. The company's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot will be available to users in the European Union (EU) nearly 1.5 years after it was first launched. This comes nearly eight months after the Menlo Park-based tech giant stated that the rollout of its AI services in the region will be delayed due to requests from the EU's Data Protection Authority (DPA). The tech giant is now introducing Meta AI to all 41 countries in Europe, although certain features have currently been disabled for the region. Meta AI Is Arriving in European Countries In a newsroom post, the social media giant announced the rollout and highlighted that it has finally been able to circumvent the EU's complex regulatory system, and is now expanding Meta AI in the region. Notably, this will be the company's largest Meta AI expansion with 41 EU nations and 21 overseas territories scheduled to get access to the chatbot. Meta AI will be available as a chatbot across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger in Europe. The company said it is adding support for six European languages, but did not mention which ones. However certain features, that are available elsewhere, will not be accessible from the region. All the text-based features of the AI-powered chatbot will function normally in European countries. This includes text queries, real-time web search, generating content, and having conversations with Meta AI. They will also be able to summon the chatbot in group chats and have it answer queries. Users will also be able to surface content such as videos and Reels by providing keywords to the chatbot. However, they will not be able to generate or edit images using the tool or have it answer queries about an image. Voice-based features are also not accessible in the EU region. Meta AI's responses might also lack personalisation and knowledge of the cultural nuances of the different European countries as the company claimed that the AI model powering the chatbot is not trained on EU user data. "We will continue to work collaboratively with regulators so that people in Europe have access to and are properly served by Meta's AI innovations that are already available to the rest of the world, " Meta spokesperson Ellie Heatrick told The Verge.

Meta to launch generative AI assistant in the EU: Statement

Meta AI was first unveiled for the US in September 2023, then rolled out across all the group's applications in April 2024. Although image generation is available in the US, in the EU the generative AI tool will craft text-only responses to users' questions. Meta AI can also draw on web search for its answers.Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta said Thursday it would launch its generative artificial intelligence assistant Meta AI in the European Union from "this week", more than a year after the service's US release. "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system - but we're glad we're finally here," the company said in a statement. "Starting this week, Meta AI will begin rolling out across 41 European countries." Meta AI was first unveiled for the US in September 2023, then rolled out across all the group's applications in April 2024. Although image generation is available in the US, in the EU the generative AI tool will craft text-only responses to users' questions. Meta AI can also draw on web search for its answers. The company said the bot's inclusion in conversations could help "deep dive on topics of interest, or get help with a 'how-to' or a problem that needs solving" such as planning a trip. Developing "large language models" (LLMs) like Meta AI requires vast reserves of data, which is heavily regulated in the European Union where it relates to individual users. Meta's bot available in the EU was not trained on data from EU users. Until now, the company had held off on introducing its AI in the bloc, saying it was unclear how authorities might interpret overlapping rules on data protection, AI and digital markets. Europe suffers from a "fragmented regulatory structure riddled with inconsistent implementation," chief executive Mark Zuckerburg said in an August op-ed piece for the Economist newspaper co-written with Spotify chief Daniel Ek. 700 million users Meta now appears to have overcome those hurdles for the 41 European countries and six languages it operates in. AI is an overriding priority for Meta as for other Silicon Valley giants. The group plans to invest $60-65 billion this year, with much of the cash going into data centres, servers and network infrastructure necessary to develop AI models. "This is a massive effort, and over the coming years it will drive our core products and business, unlock historic innovation, and extend American technology leadership," Zuckerberg said in January as he announced Meta's 2024 financial results. For now, Meta claims around 700 million monthly active users for its AI assistant -- still somewhat shy of the one billion Zuckerberg said was needed to secure "a durable long-term advantage".

Meta is rolling out its AI assistant to 41 European countries this week

The AI will be accessible on Meta's various social media platforms. There are already so many different artificial intelligence "companions" in the wild that it can be difficult to know which one is best for you. Whether it's Apple's Siri, Google's Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, X's Grok... The list goes on and now it is even being expanded with another option. Meta has announced the largest rollout yet for its Meta AI platform. The system, which made its first debut in a handful of countries in 2023, is now set to reach 41 more European countries and 21 additional overseas territories too, with the platform even featuring intelligent chat functions in six European languages. As for why it has taken Meta AI so long to get a grand European rollout, Meta explains: "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system - but we're glad we're finally here. Over the coming weeks, we'll take the first step in making Meta AI's chat function available in six European languages, with a view to find parity with the US and expand our offering over time." You'll be able to see the Meta AI system in Meta's various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Whats App, and Messenger. It's found via the new blue circle icon in the task bar.

Meta Lifts Suspension on European AI as Chatbot Goes Global

Eight months after saying it wouldn't release its AI platform in the EU, Meta has reversed course. In the coming weeks, Meta plans to roll out its AI chatbot to more European users, eventually offering the same services as in the U.S. Meta AI Expands Into Europe When Meta launched a suite of AI products in July 2024, it initially excluded European users, citing the "unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment." The chatbot, integrated with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, debuted in the U.K. in October 2024. Now, it is expanding to 41 more European countries, including EU member states. Overcoming Regulatory Uncertainty Whatever regulatory uncertainty initially prompted Meta to hold off on launching AI products in Europe, it has now overcome. "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system," the company said in a statement on Thursday, March 20. "But we're glad we're finally here," it added. One key challenge has been compliance with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with legal complaints targeting Meta's access to European user data. Meta argues it needs to collect user data to keep its AI models competitive. Critics, however, claim this practice violates European privacy laws by gathering personal information without active consent. Meta AI Expands Internationally With the planned European rollout, Meta AI will be available in over 60 countries worldwide. The platform supports AI features in multiple languages, including Arabic, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese. "Looking ahead, it's our ambition to make AI products available to more people around the world," Meta said. "We've continued to add new intelligent functions in the U.S. -- including personalization and memory -- as well as extended creative features such as AI Studio to more markets globally."

Meta AI Goes Multilingual: Six Languages Supported in Limited Europe Release

Meta AI is debuting in Europe After Regulatory Approval with multiple-language supports Meta has multiple big plans this year. It has officially rolled out its AI assistant across Europe, which marks a significant expansion of its artificial intelligence abilities in the region. The most interesting part is that this chatbot introduces a unique feature of using six different languages across Europe: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. This deployment covers 41 European countries and 21 overseas territories and includes Meta AI in popular platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

Meta AI officially arrives in Europe: free and without installation

Meta AI is now available in 41 European countries offering free and seamless AI integration in WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook. Meta has officially launched its artificial intelligence, Meta AI, across Europe, marking its largest rollout to date. After months of regulatory hurdles, users in 41 countries will now have access to this tool directly within popular apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook. The best part? It is completely free and requires no installation. Meta AI expands to 41 countries across Europe Meta AI, based on the company's Llama language model, was first introduced in the United States in 2023. However, European users had to wait due to compliance challenges with strict EU regulations on artificial intelligence. Now, after overcoming these obstacles, the company is ready to bring its AI to millions of users across Europe. This deployment will occur in waves, meaning that some users will receive access sooner than others. Over the coming weeks, Meta AI will gradually appear as an option within the supported apps, allowing users to interact with the AI in multiple ways. Integrated within apps you already use One of the most notable advantages of Meta AI is its seamless integration into apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook. Users will notice a new blue circular icon within these applications, which they can tap to engage with the AI. In WhatsApp, for example, Meta AI can even be used in group chats, where it can help answer questions or add a fun element to conversations. By embedding AI into widely used platforms, Meta aims to make artificial intelligence more accessible and practical for everyday use. The arrival of Meta AI in Europe represents a significant milestone in the global expansion of artificial intelligence.With free access and effortless integration, Meta AI has the potential to reshape how millions of users interact with AI-powered tools.

Meta to launch generative AI assistant in the EU

AFP - Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta said yesterday it would launch its generative artificial intelligence (AI) assistant Meta AI in the European Union from "this week", more than a year after the service's United States (US) release. "It's taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system - but we're glad we're finally here," the company said in a statement. "Starting this week, Meta AI will begin rolling out across 41 European countries." Meta AI was first unveiled for the US in September 2023, then rolled out across all the group's applications in April 2024. Although image generation is available in the US, in the EU the generative AI tool will craft text-only responses to users' questions. Meta AI can also draw on web search for its answers. The company said the bot's inclusion in conversations could help "deep dive on topics of interest, or get help with a 'how-to' or a problem that needs solving" such as planning a trip. Developing "large language models" (LLMs) such as Meta AI requires vast reserves of data, which is heavily regulated in the European Union where it relates to individual users. Meta's bot available in the EU was not trained on data from EU users. Until now, the company had held off on introducing its AI in the bloc, saying it was unclear how authorities might interpret overlapping rules on data protection, AI and digital markets. Europe suffers from a "fragmented regulatory structure riddled with inconsistent implementation", Chief Executive Mark Zuckerburg said.