Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, ETR:FB2A, SWX:FB) has stepped up its presence in the burgeoning AI market with an upgraded version of its language-based model, Llama 3, alongside a real-time image generator.
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said the models will be integrated into its virtual assistant Meta AI, to compete head-on with the free version of market leader OpenAI’s Chat GPT.
Though it will produce only text initially, Meta said Llama 3 will have new computer coding and imaging capabilities and upcoming versions will be capable of “multimodality” and generate both text and images.
“The goal eventually is to help take things off your plate, just help make your life easier, whether it’s interacting with businesses, whether it’s writing something, whether it’s planning a trip,” added Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer in interviews after the launch.
Cox said the inclusion of images would allow Llama 3 to be added to its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses project and give scope for Meta AI to identify and respond to objects seen by the wearer.
A new partnership with Google will enhance the existing arrangement with Microsoft’s Bing search engine.
Meta has been struggling to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
In a pitch promoting the new product Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive, said Meta AI was “the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use”.