Using generative AI for ads: Meta's plan

According to Andrew Bosworth, the CTO of Meta, the company has ambitious plans to incorporate large-scale generative AI into its advertising operations.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Andrew Bosworth, the Vice President of Facebook Reality Labs at Meta, revealed that the company is heavily focused on developing generative AI for advertisers, with plans to implement the technology this year.

Bosworth, who oversees the development of Facebook's virtual and augmented reality products, stated that the company created a new team dedicated to the project, the generative AI team, just a few months ago. He added that he, along with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, are actively involved in the project, making it a top priority for the company.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, is currently facing tough competition from platforms like TikTok and is looking for new revenue streams to bolster its balance sheet. With advertising being the primary source of revenue, the use of generative AI to help advertisers create ads could be a significant advantage for the company.

Bosworth explained that the generative AI team is exploring ChatGPT-style texting features for WhatsApp and Messenger, which could automate the process of generating responses to common queries or customer service inquiries. He also stated that the team is using AI for Instagram filters and "ad formats," which could potentially make ad creation quicker and easier for businesses.

The integration of AI into Meta's metaverse plans is also being explored. Bosworth stated that the company is looking at ways for users to develop AI personas, which could interact with other users in virtual reality. He also mentioned that the generative AI team is working on creating 3D worlds without requiring programming experience.

Bosworth stated that in the future, users could describe the world they want to create, and the AI would generate it for them, making content creation more accessible to a wider range of people.

While the success of the metaverse remains uncertain, the use of AI advertising tools is likely to keep Meta's shareholders happy. The generative AI team's work could potentially save businesses a lot of time and money, and the company's investment in AI research and development shows its commitment to innovation and staying ahead of the competition.