Meta announced on Thursday the launch of its AI chat function across the European Union, marking a significant step after facing regulatory hurdles. The rollout, which was initially delayed due to concerns over data privacy, is now commencing in six European languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German.
“It’s taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system – but we’re glad we’re finally here,” Meta stated in a blog post. The company’s AI assistant, Meta AI, initially launched in the United States in September 2023, followed by India and the United Kingdom. However, plans for a European expansion were paused last summer.
The primary issue stemmed from the Irish Data Protection Commission. The Commission instructed Meta to postpone its plan to use data from adult Facebook and Instagram users to train its large language models (LLMs). This regulatory setback prompted Meta to reassess its approach before proceeding with the European launch.
Meta AI will be integrated into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Users will be able to interact with the tool in various ways, such as asking questions within WhatsApp group chats or discovering content tailored to their interests. The initial rollout will cover 41 European countries, encompassing EU member states and 21 overseas territories.
Joel Kaplan, Meta’s new global policy chief, recently criticized Europe’s regulatory actions against US tech companies. Kaplan argued that the continent risks being sidelined during a global AI revolution. He emphasized the importance of fostering competitiveness, economic growth, open innovation, and transatlantic cooperation. Kaplan’s comments echo Meta’s recent strategic communications.
In a similar vein, CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed the US election in January, indicating Meta’s intent to collaborate with the incoming US President to counter regulatory attempts to curb social media platforms.
