Meta is preparing to launch artificial intelligence chatbots, each with unique personalities, on its social media platforms as early as this week. This move is aimed at appealing to a younger user demographic, as reported by WSJ.

These generative AI bots are currently undergoing internal testing by employees. The company plans to unveil the first of these AI agents at the upcoming Meta Connect conference, commencing this Wednesday. 

These bots aim to enhance user engagement and may also possess productivity-oriented abilities, such as assisting with coding and various tasks. Meta is in the process of crafting multiple AI personality chatbots and has been exploring a product that would enable celebrities and content creators to utilise their customised AI chatbots for engaging with their fans and followers.

One of the upcoming bots is named “Bob the robot,” who describes himself as a master of sass with a “superior intellect, clever humor, and sharp sarcasm,” as per documents from the company seen by The Wall Street Journal.

Meta is taking a page out of other social media companies’ playbooks by introducing chatbots powered by generative AI technology to attract a younger user demographic. In February, Snap rolled out My AI, a chatbot utilising OpenAI’s GPT technology, to Snapchat users. 

Meanwhile, the Silicon Valley startup Character.AI allows individuals to create and engage with chatbots that simulate specific characters or famous personalities like Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin.