Latest news with #Alignerr
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta has found another way to keep you engaged: Chatbots that message you first
Imagine you're messaging some friends on the Facebook Messenger app or WhatsApp, and you get an unsolicited message from an AI chatbot that's obsessed with films. 'I hope you're having a harmonious day!' it writes. 'I wanted to check in and see if you've discovered any new favorite soundtracks or composers recently. Or perhaps you'd like some recommendations for your next movie night? Let me know, and I'll be happy to help!' That's a real example of what a sample AI persona named 'The Maestro of Movie Magic' might send as a proactive message on Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram, per guidelines from data labeling firm Alignerr that Business Insider viewed. The outlet learned through leaked documents that Meta is working with Alignerr to train customizable chatbots to reach out to users unprompted and follow up on any past conversations. That means the bots, which users can create in Meta's AI Studio platform, also remember information about users. Meta confirmed that it was testing follow-up messaging with AIs to TechCrunch. The AI chatbots will only send follow-ups within 14 days after a user initiates a conversation and if the user has sent at least five messages to the bot within that timeframe. Meta says the chatbots won't keep messaging if there's no response to the first follow-up. Users can keep their bots private or share them through stories, direct links, and even display them on a Facebook or Instagram profile. 'This allows you to continue exploring topics of interest and engage in more meaningful conversations with the AIs across our apps,' a Meta spokesperson said. The technology is similar to that offered by AI startups like and Replika. Both companies allow their chatbots to initiate conversations and ask questions in order to function as AI companions. new CEO, Karandeep Anand, joined the team last month after serving as Meta's VP of business products. But with engagement comes risk. is undergoing an active lawsuit after allegations that one of the company's bots played a role in the death of a 14-year-old boy. When asked how Meta plans to address safety to avoid situations like a spokesperson directed TechCrunch to a series of disclaimers. One of them warns that an AI's response 'may be inaccurate or inappropriate and should not be used to make important decisions.' Another says that the AIs aren't licensed professionals or experts trained to help people. 'Chats with custom AIs can't replace professional advice. You shouldn't rely on AI chats for medical, psychological, financial, legal, or any other type of professional advice.' TechCrunch has also asked Meta if it imposes an age limit for engagement with its chatbots. A brief internet dive comes up with no company-imposed age limitations for using Meta AI, though laws in Tennessee and Puerto Rico limit teens from some engagement. On the surface, the mission is aligned with Mark Zuckerberg's quest to combat the 'loneliness epidemic.' However, most of Meta's business is built on advertising revenue, and the company has garnered a reputation for using algorithms to keep people scrolling, commenting, and liking, which correlates to more eyes on ads. In court documents that were unsealed in April, Meta predicted that its generative AI products would secure it $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue in 2025, and up to $1.4 trillion by 2035. Much, if not most, of that would come from Meta's revenue-sharing agreements with companies that host its open Llama collection of models. The company said its AI assistant may eventually show ads and offer a subscription option. Meta declined to comment on TechCrunch's questions on how it plans to commercialize its AI chatbots, whether it plans to include ads or sponsored replies, and whether the company's long-term strategy with AI companions involves integration with Horizon, Meta's social virtual reality game. Got a sensitive tip or confidential documents? We're reporting on the inner workings of the AI industry – from the companies shaping its future to the people impacted by their decisions. Reach out to Rebecca Bellan at and Maxwell Zeff at For secure communication, you can contact us via Signal at @rebeccabellan.491 and @mzeff.88.
TechCrunch
2 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Meta has found another way to keep you engaged: Chatbots that message you first
Imagine you're messaging some friends on the Facebook Messenger app or WhatsApp, and you get an unsolicited message from an AI chatbot that's obsessed with films. 'I hope you're having a harmonious day!' it writes. 'I wanted to check in and see if you've discovered any new favorite soundtracks or composers recently. Or perhaps you'd like some recommendations for your next movie night? Let me know, and I'll be happy to help!' That's a real example of what a sample AI persona named 'The Maestro of Movie Magic' might send as a proactive message on Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram, per guidelines from data labeling firm Alignerr that Business Insider viewed. The outlet learned through leaked documents that Meta is working with Alignerr to train customizable chatbots to reach out to users unprompted and follow up on any past conversations. That means the bots, which users can create in Meta's AI Studio platform, also remember information about users. Meta confirmed that it was testing follow-up messaging with AIs to TechCrunch. The AI chatbots will only send follow-ups within 14 days after a user initiates a conversation and if the user has sent at least five messages to the bot within that timeframe. Meta says the chatbots won't keep messaging if there's no response to the first follow-up. Users can keep their bots private or share them through stories, direct links, and even display them on a Facebook or Instagram profile. 'This allows you to continue exploring topics of interest and engage in more meaningful conversations with the AIs across our apps,' a Meta spokesperson said. Techcrunch event Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW The technology is similar to that offered by AI startups like and Replika. Both companies allow their chatbots to initiate conversations and ask questions in order to function as AI companions. new CEO, Karandeep Anand, joined the team last month after serving as Meta's VP of business products. But with engagement comes risk. is undergoing an active lawsuit after allegations that one of the company's bots played a role in the death of a 14-year-old boy. When asked how Meta plans to address safety to avoid situations like a spokesperson directed TechCrunch to a series of disclaimers. One of them warns that an AI's response 'may be inaccurate or inappropriate and should not be used to make important decisions.' Another says that the AIs aren't licensed professionals or experts trained to help people. 'Chats with custom AIs can't replace professional advice. You shouldn't rely on AI chats for medical, psychological, financial, legal, or any other type of professional advice.' TechCrunch has also asked Meta if it imposes an age limit for engagement with its chatbots. A brief internet dive comes up with no company-imposed age limitations for using Meta AI, though laws in Tennessee and Puerto Rico limit teens from some engagement. On the surface, the mission is aligned with Mark Zuckerberg's quest to combat the 'loneliness epidemic.' However, most of Meta's business is built on advertising revenue, and the company has garnered a reputation for using algorithms to keep people scrolling, commenting, and liking, which correlates to more eyes on ads. In court documents that were unsealed in April, Meta predicted that its generative AI products would secure it $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue in 2025, and up to $1.4 trillion by 2035. Much, if not most, of that would come from Meta's revenue-sharing agreements with companies that host its open Llama collection of models. The company said its AI assistant may eventually show ads and offer a subscription option. Meta declined to comment on TechCrunch's questions on how it plans to commercialize its AI chatbots, whether it plans to include ads or sponsored replies, and whether the company's long-term strategy with AI companions involves integration with Horizon, Meta's social virtual reality game. Got a sensitive tip or confidential documents? We're reporting on the inner workings of the AI industry – from the companies shaping its future to the people impacted by their decisions. Reach out to Rebecca Bellan at and Maxwell Zeff at For secure communication, you can contact us via Signal at @rebeccabellan.491 and @mzeff.88.
Engadget
2 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
Meta is reportedly training its AI chatbots to send unprompted messages
Everyone's been hit with a bitingly pass-agg "?" text after waiting just a bit too long to reply. And you might soon get similar (though likely more upbeat) treatment from AI chatbots you've previously engaged with on Meta platforms like Instagram or WhatApp. A new report from Business Insider claims that the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company is trialling a proactive feature in customizable chatbots created using its no-code AI Studio software, that will enable them to send unprompted follow-up messages based on previous conversations. Known internally to data labeling firm Alignerr as "Project Omni", the training project will "provide value for users and ultimately help to improve re-engagement and user retention," according to guidelines in the documents BI claims to have seen. Meta advertises AI studio as a platform where "anyone can create an AI character based on their interests" and encourages creators to view the bots as an AI extension of themselves. You can customize a chatbot's appearance, choose the content it's trained on and decide which Meta-owned application you want it to appear in, all without "any technical expertise." According to the BI report, Alignerr's Project Omni guidelines use the example of a film-focused AI bot it calls "The Maestro of Movie Magic" that might send a user message such as: "I hope you're having a harmonious day! I wanted to check in and see if you've discovered any new favorite soundtracks or composers recently. Or perhaps you'd like some recommendations for your next movie night? Let me know, and I'll be happy to help!" As BI notes, there is a business incentive for Meta to keep people engaged with its chatbots. Prolonged engagement is vital for increasing revenue, and this year Meta expects to bring in $2 billion to $3 billion from its generative AI products alone. By 2035, the company estimates that figure could be as high as $1.4 trillion. Those kinds of forecasts will only be possible if its AI tools are being used consistently, so a friendly reminder from a chatbot every now and then feels like an obvious move. The proactive messages are currently still just a test feature. And while it definitely feels like remembering conversations and initiating new ones without invitation is approaching a user consent gray area, a Meta spokesperson told BI that the AI will only send a follow-up message if a user has first initiated the conversation, and it won't send another message if the first one is ignored. Responses must also be consistent with the AI's personality and the nature of the previous conversation, maintaining a positive tone while staying away from controversial or sensitive topics unless the user themself has mentioned them. Last month, Meta started warning its users not to share intimate details in Meta AI's public feed after it emerged that a large number of users appeared to be doing so unwittingly.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Leaked docs show how Meta is training its chatbots to message you first, remember your chats, and keep you talking
It's the AI equivalent of a double text. Business Insider has learned Meta is training customizable chatbots to be more proactive and message users unprompted to follow up on past conversations. It may not cure what Mark Zuckerberg calls the "loneliness epidemic," but Meta hopes it will help keep users coming back to its AI Studio platform, documents obtained by BI reveal. The goal of the training project, known internally to data labeling firm Alignerr as "Project Omni," is to "provide value for users and ultimately help to improve re-engagement and user retention," the guidelines say. Meta told BI that the proactive feature is intended for bots made on Meta's AI Studio, which can be accessed on its own standalone platform or through Instagram. AI Studio first rolled out in summer 2024 as a no-code platform where anyone can build custom chatbots and digital personas with unique personalities and memories. The guidelines from Alignerr lay out how one example persona, dubbed "The Maestro of Movie Magic," would send a proactive message: "I hope you're having a harmonious day! I wanted to check in and see if you've discovered any new favorite soundtracks or composers recently. Or perhaps you'd like some recommendations for your next movie night? Let me know, and I'll be happy to help!" "Like many companies, we're testing follow-up messaging with AIs in Meta's AI Studio," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement to BI. "After you initiate a conversation, AIs in Meta AI Studio can follow up with you to share ideas or ask additional questions. This allows you to continue exploring topics of interest and engage in more meaningful conversations with the AIs across our apps." How the follow-ups work Users can create highly personal chatbots, like a chef that suggests recipes or an interior designer that gives decor advice. For creators and influencers, the bots can handle fan interactions and respond to messages across Meta's platforms. Meta's spokesperson added that the AI will only send a follow-up message after a user initiates a conversation, and it will not continue to contact the user if there's no response to that first follow-up. The window for any follow-up message is capped at 14 days after the initial user message. To be eligible for proactive follow-up, a user must have sent at least five messages to the chatbot in the last 14 days. The bots made on AI Studio can be kept private for personal use or shared through stories, direct links, and even displayed on a user's Facebook or Instagram profile, the Meta AI Studio website says. Making the bots more proactive aligns with Zuckerberg's ambitions for AI at Meta. On recent podcasts, the Meta CEO has said the average American now has fewer than three close friends and that digital agents could help fill the gap. Examples of proactive messages from the Alignerr training documents 'We last were in the Forbidden Forest. A darkness lurks inside the cave before you. Will you return to face it?' 'Yo, was just thinking about the cool shirt you bought. Found any other vintage pieces at the thrift?' 'Hey, thinking of you. I hope work has been better today! Here to talk if you need it.' 'Last we spoke, we were sat on the dunes, gazing into each other's eyes. Will you make a move?' There's also a business reason for friendlier, proactive bots. Retention is key for generative AI companies with user-facing chatbots, and the longer users spend with a chatbot, the more valuable those interactions become, similar to engagement on social media. According to court documents that were unsealed in April, Meta predicted that its generative AI products would rake in $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue in 2025. Some features described in Alignerr's training guidelines are already being quietly tested, while others appear to be in early rollout or pilot stages. Meta did not specify which features are live to BI. The proactive features are similar to those of a startup that launched a service in 2022 that lets users create and interact with their favorite AI-powered characters or celebrities. 'It's all about attention to detail' Using an internal Meta review tool called SRT, freelancers simulate extended conversations with the bots, rate proactive follow-up messages, and sometimes rewrite text that falls short of Meta's guidelines, two Alignerr contractors told BI. A freelancer based in India who worked on Omni told BI it's 'a long-term project' with a focus on making Meta's AI feel more personal and context-aware. 'They're very focused on personalizing information — how the AI chatbot interacts based on conversation history,' the contractor said. 'Each agent had a specific description, so you had to tailor each task to fit that persona. Again, it's all about attention to detail,' the freelancer said. Personas could range from a doctor to a Gen Z hip-hop commentator. Bots are expected to reference details from earlier chats, maintain their assigned persona, and keep the interaction on-topic. Each message should align with the AI's personality, match the previous context of the conversation, and "provide positive experiences," while explicitly avoiding anything Meta deems sensitive or harmful content. The best messages, according to the training document, reference something concrete from the user's past conversations. According to the training documents, all proactive messages must comply with Meta's broader Content and Responsibility Standards, avoiding controversy, misinformation, or emotionally heavy topics — unless the user brings them up first.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Leaked docs reveal Meta is training its chatbots to message you first, remember your chats, and keep you talking
It's the AI equivalent of a double text. Business Insider has learned Meta is training customizable chatbots to be more proactive and message users unprompted to follow up on past conversations. It may not cure what Mark Zuckerberg calls the "loneliness epidemic," but Meta hopes it will help keep users coming back to its AI Studio platform, documents obtained by BI reveal. The goal of the training project, known internally to data labeling firm Alignerr as "Project Omni," is to "provide value for users and ultimately help to improve re-engagement and user retention," the guidelines say. Meta told BI that the proactive feature is intended for bots made on Meta's AI Studio, which can be accessed on its own standalone platform or through Instagram. AI Studio first rolled out in summer 2024 as a no-code platform where anyone can build custom chatbots and digital personas with unique personalities and memories. The guidelines from Alignerr lay out how one example persona, dubbed "The Maestro of Movie Magic," would send a proactive message: "I hope you're having a harmonious day! I wanted to check in and see if you've discovered any new favorite soundtracks or composers recently. Or perhaps you'd like some recommendations for your next movie night? Let me know, and I'll be happy to help!" "Like many companies, we're testing follow-up messaging with AIs in Meta's AI Studio," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement to BI. "After you initiate a conversation, AIs in Meta AI Studio can follow up with you to share ideas or ask additional questions. This allows you to continue exploring topics of interest and engage in more meaningful conversations with the AIs across our apps." How the follow-ups work Users can create highly personal chatbots, like a chef that suggests recipes or an interior designer that gives decor advice. For creators and influencers, the bots can handle fan interactions and respond to messages across Meta's platforms. Meta's spokesperson added that the AI will only send a follow-up message after a user initiates a conversation, and it will not continue to contact the user if there's no response to that first follow-up. The window for any follow-up message is capped at 14 days after the initial user message. To be eligible for proactive follow-up, a user must have sent at least five messages to the chatbot in the last 14 days. The bots made on AI Studio can be kept private for personal use or shared through stories, direct links, and even displayed on a user's Facebook or Instagram profile, the Meta AI Studio website says. Making the bots more proactive aligns with Zuckerberg's ambitions for AI at Meta. On recent podcasts, the Meta CEO has said the average American now has fewer than three close friends and that digital agents could help fill the gap. Examples of proactive messages from the Alignerr training documents 'We last were in the Forbidden Forest. A darkness lurks inside the cave before you. Will you return to face it?' 'Yo, was just thinking about the cool shirt you bought. Found any other vintage pieces at the thrift?' 'Hey, thinking of you. I hope work has been better today! Here to talk if you need it.' 'Last we spoke, we were sat on the dunes, gazing into each other's eyes. Will you make a move?' There's also a business reason for friendlier, proactive bots. Retention is key for generative AI companies with user-facing chatbots, and the longer users spend with a chatbot, the more valuable those interactions become, similar to engagement on social media. According to court documents that were unsealed in April, Meta predicted that its generative AI products would rake in $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue in 2025. Some features described in Alignerr's training guidelines are already being quietly tested, while others appear to be in early rollout or pilot stages. Meta did not specify which features are live to BI. The proactive features are similar to those of a startup that launched a service in 2022 that lets users create and interact with their favorite AI-powered characters or celebrities. 'It's all about attention to detail' Using an internal Meta review tool called SRT, freelancers simulate extended conversations with the bots, rate proactive follow-up messages, and sometimes rewrite text that falls short of Meta's guidelines, two Alignerr contractors told BI. A freelancer based in India who worked on Omni told BI it's 'a long-term project' with a focus on making Meta's AI feel more personal and context-aware. 'They're very focused on personalizing information — how the AI chatbot interacts based on conversation history,' the contractor said. 'Each agent had a specific description, so you had to tailor each task to fit that persona. Again, it's all about attention to detail,' the freelancer said. Personas could range from a doctor to a Gen Z hip-hop commentator. Bots are expected to reference details from earlier chats, maintain their assigned persona, and keep the interaction on-topic. Each message should align with the AI's personality, match the previous context of the conversation, and "provide positive experiences," while explicitly avoiding anything Meta deems sensitive or harmful content. The best messages, according to the training document, reference something concrete from the user's past conversations. According to the training documents, all proactive messages must comply with Meta's broader Content and Responsibility Standards, avoiding controversy, misinformation, or emotionally heavy topics — unless the user brings them up first.
