Meta AI is finally launching in the EU, albeit with limited functionality. After regulatory delays due to privacy concerns, a chatbot-only version of Meta AI will be available this week on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Unlike its US counterpart, the EU version won’t include Llama-powered multi-modal features like image generation or analyzing photos.
This limited release follows extensive negotiations with EU regulators who initially blocked Meta AI’s launch over data privacy issues. Meta’s proposal to use all user data since 2007 for AI training, even publicly shared content, was rejected. As a result, the EU version of Meta AI is not trained on any EU user data.
Instagram users can use the chatbot to filter their feeds or brainstorm ideas. The removal of multi-modal capabilities is temporary, as further negotiations are ongoing. Meta has confirmed its commitment to expanding features for European users in the future.
While the EU version is currently limited to basic chatbot functionality, Meta aims to bring more features to European users pending further discussions with regulators. The company is actively working towards a more comprehensive offering, including the potential reintroduction of multi-modal features.
The limited launch represents a significant step for Meta AI in the EU market. While users will have to wait for the full suite of features, the chatbot offers a first glimpse of the technology’s potential. Meta’s commitment to ongoing negotiations suggests a promising future for a more robust Meta AI experience in Europe.
