Meta has released in-house AI software called Metamate. Metamate is built on Llama, Meta’s large-scale language model, and helps with tasks such as coding, research, and drafting communications, the Financial Times report said. Prashant Ratanchandani, Meta’s vice president of engineering, said the software is not yet available to the general public, but it is helping Meta explore how AI can work in business. He added that the goal is to create “the world’s best enterprise assistant.”
What Metamate does
Meta employees, including executives, use MetaMate for tasks such as coding, looking up company information and preparing calls with customers, according to the report. The company also uses other AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Ratanchandani said the company is working to make MetaMate closer to a true AI assistant, but it’s too early to measure its effectiveness.
The announcement comes at a time when Meta is exploring ways to monetize AI. Last month, the company hired former Salesforce AI executive Clara Shih to lead its new “business AI” team. Her goal is to make advanced AI tools available to all businesses.
The company has already added AI capabilities to Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. However, Metamate still lags behind similar tools from Microsoft and Google. For example, it can’t handle videos or images, and it doesn’t have advanced features like joining meetings or managing your calendar.
AI tools market to grow to $47 billion by 2030
Technology companies like OpenAI and Google are racing to develop AI assistants to attract businesses and increase revenue. The AI tools market is expected to grow significantly from the current $5.1 billion to $47 billion by 2030, according to data from market research firm MarketsandMarkets.
The market for AI tools is growing, but their adoption and productivity gains may take years. Experts say companies typically test new tools internally before releasing them. But Meta’s focus on advertising and social media has led some to wonder if it will have a hard time becoming a major AI vendor.