A picture taken on May 20, 2024, shows the Meta AI logo. Reuters
Meta, the company behind popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is preparing to introduce celebrity voices to its AI-powered chatbot. This new feature, which will allow users to pick the voice of actors like Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, and John Cena, is expected to be unveiled at Meta’s annual Connect conference. The conference will kick off this Wednesday.
The AI chatbot is similar to ChatGPT and has been in development for some time. The addition of these well-known voices is part of Meta’s efforts to make its AI assistant more interactive and fun for users. According to a source close to the company’s plans, five celebrity voices, including Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key, will be available for users to choose from. For those who prefer not to use celebrity voices, Meta will also offer several generic voice options.
This feature will first launch in the U.S. and other English-speaking regions, across Meta’s apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company aims to make its AI assistant a central part of the user experience on these platforms.
British actress Dame Judi Dench holds a seedling from the Sycamore Gap tree, which was cut down by vandals at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, during the Chelsea Flower Show in London, on May 20, 2024. Reuters
In addition to the chatbot voice feature, Meta plans to introduce a new version of its augmented reality (AR) glasses at the Connect conference. The AR glasses are expected to further push the boundaries of how users interact with the digital world, continuing Meta's journey into the world of virtual reality. Meta already sells Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which were the first to integrate an audio version of the Meta AI chatbot last year.
The idea of using celebrities for AI voices has been brewing at Meta for some time. Earlier reports suggested the company was in talks with several celebrities about lending their voices to AI projects. In fact, just last week, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, shared a video of John Cena promoting the company’s Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which could give a hint of what’s to come with the new features.
Meta has been working hard to catch up with its competitors in the AI space, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s AI efforts. OpenAI introduced a similar audio feature for its chatbot earlier this year, but it ran into controversy when actress Scarlett Johansson claimed the AI's voice sounded too similar to her without her permission.
John Cena attends the "Jackpot!" movie premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 13, 2024. Reuters
Meta has previously tried using celebrities in AI projects. Last year, it experimented with text-based chatbots inspired by famous figures like Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg. However, these projects didn’t gain much popularity. Now, the company is shifting focus to a new AI Studio tool, which allows content creators to make chatbot versions of themselves for Meta’s platforms. This could help influencers and public figures interact with their fans in more unique ways.
Meta is pushing forward with these AI innovations as part of its broader mission to lead in the generative artificial intelligence field. The company wants to make its AI products more engaging for its billions of users across the globe. By adding celebrity voices to its AI chatbot, Meta hopes to set itself apart from its competitors and provide a more enjoyable experience for its users.
