Meta is intensifying its AI chatbot initiatives by recruiting a roster of high-profile celebrities, including renowned actors Judi Dench and Awkwafina, as reported by the New York Times. These celebrity-fronted chatbots are set to engage users across Meta’s major platforms, including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
Previously, Meta introduced celebrity personas for its social media apps, featuring figures such as Tom Brady, Mr. Beast, and Kendall Jenner. However, these persona-focused chatbots have been discontinued in favor of a new and improved AI chatbot offering, Meta AI.
Undeterred, Meta is now negotiating with top Hollywood talent agencies, reportedly offering "millions of dollars" to secure the voices of high-profile stars for its AI services. The company aims to finalize these deals quickly to showcase the new celebrity-voiced chatbots at its annual Connect event scheduled for September. All contracts are expected to be temporary, with options for renewal upon completion.
The celebrities’ voices will be featured in a digital assistant product branded as MetaAI. This name encompasses not only Meta's chatbot services but also the AI technology powering its smart glasses, which are designed to provide contextual information based on what the wearer sees.
In addition to its celebrity chatbot push, Meta recently launched AI Studio, a platform allowing users to create custom AI text-based chatbots, including those featuring celebrities and influencers.
Meta's move to incorporate celebrities into its AI offerings follows similar efforts by other tech companies. Notably, OpenAI attempted to recruit Scarlett Johansson for ChatGPT but faced legal challenges after creating a voice resembling the actress without her consent. OpenAI ultimately removed the voice, named Sky, after Johansson's legal threat.
As Meta continues to enhance its AI capabilities, the inclusion of celebrity voices represents a strategic effort to boost user engagement and differentiate its AI services in a competitive market.
