Meta Platforms is poised to introduce an innovative audio feature for its AI chatbot at this week’s Connect conference. The company has partnered with notable actors, including Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, John Cena, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key, to provide unique voices for its digital assistant. Users will have the option to select from these celebrity voices, alongside several generic options, enhancing their interaction with the chatbot across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The new voice capabilities are set to roll out in the U.S. and other English-speaking markets shortly after the announcement. Additionally, Meta plans to unveil its first version of augmented-reality glasses and discuss future hardware developments, such as the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which previously integrated an audio version of the chatbot.
Earlier this summer, Bloomberg reported on Meta’s negotiations with celebrities for its AI initiatives. Recently, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a promotional video featuring John Cena, highlighting the glasses in an engaging context.
As Meta strives to enhance its generative AI offerings, it faces competition from major players like OpenAI and Google. The introduction of celebrity voices aims to make the chatbot a more integral part of the user experience.
This follows OpenAI’s previous attempt to launch a similar feature, which faced controversy when actress Scarlett Johansson claimed the AI’s voice resembled hers despite her refusal to participate.
Currently, Meta’s assistant can engage in text chats and generate images based on user prompts. The company previously experimented with celebrity-inspired text-based chatbot versions but did not see significant user engagement. Now, Meta is focusing on its AI Studio product, allowing content creators to develop personalized chatbot versions.
