This Thursday, March 20, 2025, Meta is (finally) launching its artificial intelligence assistant, Meta AI, across 41 European countries, including France. Long-awaited after its introduction in the United States in 2023, this tool is landing on apps like Instagram and WhatsApp.
But what should you expect? A breakdown of a very strategic arrival for Mark Zuckerberg’s company.
Meta is betting everything on artificial intelligence
For Meta, artificial intelligence isn’t just a trend; it’s a central pillar. After the partial failure of the Metaverse, the American company aims to be ambitious in the field of AI. This year, the company plans to spend between $60 and $65 billion on massive infrastructure—ultra-powerful servers, state-of-the-art data centers, and optimized networks—to boost its technological projects.
Mark Zuckerberg, head of the group, makes no secret of his optimism: he wants to see Meta AI reach over a billion users before 2026. With already 700 million people using it each month worldwide, the assistant could soon outpace competitors like our free Chat GPT that we offer on Yiaho, Google’s Gemini, or Anthropic’s Claude! (But we’re French!)
Moreover, in the United States, some observers are betting on an upcoming new version of Meta AI, which would be a dedicated app to directly take on the AI giants.
Read also: JEPA: Meta’s AI that’s getting closer to how the human brain works?
A conversational AI for Europeans
Starting today, Meta AI is gradually rolling out across the Meta app ecosystem on:
- Instagram,
- Facebook,
- Messenger,
- WhatsApp.
To activate it, look for a small blue circle in the interface or, in a WhatsApp group, type “@MetaAI” before your question. As of this Thursday, March 20, the tool isn’t functional yet, but this assistant aims to be practical for daily life. It can help you find inspiration for a project, plan a vacation itinerary, clarify a complex topic, or explore the news from a new angle.
But don’t expect any visual miracles in Europe: while Americans can create images or ask questions about photos, European users will have to settle for purely text-based exchanges. A notable difference that limits the possibilities.
A launch slowed down by European rules
Why the timing gap with the United States? The answer lies in two words: European regulation. Between the GDPR, which protects personal data, the AI ACT, and legal frameworks for digital markets, Meta had to rethink its plans.
The company mentions a “demanding” legal environment that complicated the adaptation of its technology. To bypass these obstacles, Meta AI does not use any data from European users for its training—a major concession.
Mark Zuckerberg, in a statement last summer alongside the CEO of Spotify, lamented a Europe where rules, poorly coordinated between countries, slow down technological progress. After months of discussions with regulators, Meta is therefore delivering a simplified version without graphic options.
A strategy tailored for social networks?
Despite these compromises, Meta AI has its strengths. Integrated into ultra-popular platforms:
- WhatsApp dominates messaging in Europe with over 400 million users,
- Instagram follows with around 300 million.
In short, this AI assistant benefits from immediate visibility.
Compared to tools like Yiaho, GPT models, or xAI’s Grok, Meta is playing the card of direct and immediate accessibility on social media. However, the lack of visual features might leave some users wanting more, especially in a sector where multimedia content generation is becoming the norm. This cautious launch looks like a trial run before potential future developments.
Read also: Grok 3: Elon Musk announces “the smartest AI on Earth”
Meta AI’s ambitious horizon
Mark Zuckerberg keeps hammering it home: a service that reaches a billion users becomes a permanent part of the landscape. With Meta AI, the goal is clear: to turn this assistant into an essential tool, in Europe and beyond. This rollout, even if limited, sets the stage for a broader offensive. If regulatory constraints ease or if Meta refines its formula, new features could emerge.
For now, this tool offers a gateway to AI for the masses, while reflecting the priorities of a company ready to redefine our relationship with technology.
Source: About.fb.com
