Meta AI Can Now See and Speak to You [CNET]

Meta AI is adding new celebrity voices and photo editing tools. It’s also testing integrating AI-generated content into Instagram and Facebook feeds, Mark Zuckerberg announced today at Meta Connect 2024.

Today’s Meta Connect event was chock full of AI news, including AI updates to the new Meta Quest S3 mixed reality headset, Meta Ray Bans and its virtual assistant Meta AI. Meta AI is getting new sight and voice abilities, including celebrity voices and photo editing tools. Meta is also testing integrating AI-generated content into Instagram and Facebook feeds, specifically tailored to users’ interests.

You’ll be able to use Meta AI’s voice on its social platforms: Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger. Meta said that the new voice feature is beginning to roll out today in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. If you can’t access the feature yet, don’t panic; the rollout will continue for the next month.

Meta tapped a few celebrities to lend their voices and help bring some humanity into its AI voice. You can choose between the voices of Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Keegan Michael Key and Kristen Bell for your Meta AI.

Instagram is getting even more AI attention, as Meta said it is using AI to improve video dubbing and lip syncing. The automatic dubbing for Reels will be available starting in English and Spanish and hopes to make its videos more accessible to people in their preferred language.

Meta also said it’s testing “imagined” — meaning AI-generated — content into Instagram and Facebook feeds. Meta said the images will be tailored to individual users’ interests. Meta currently adds a label to AI-generated content and it looks like imagined content for you will be getting a similar label.

Meta AI is also getting upgraded visual tech. Now when you upload a photo to Meta AI, it can tell you what’s in them, like identifying a specific type of animal or helping break down a recipe. Meta also said you can use its AI assistant to help edit photos, including removing background elements, adding new elements and changing the background.