Facebook owner Meta announces tests of generative AI ads tool


A product visual provided by Meta to announce a new generative AI ad tool, obtained by Reuters on May 11, 2023. Meta/Handout via REUTERS

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Social media giant Meta Platforms Inc joined the generative AI product race on Thursday, saying it would begin testing artificial intelligence-powered ad tools that can create content like image backgrounds and variations of written text.

A select group of advertisers will be invited to experiment with the tools in a "testing playground" that the company is calling the AI Sandbox, Meta executives said at a press event in New York.

The executives declined to specify how many advertisers would have access to the space at the outset, saying only that the group was small.

Meta planned to grant access to more advertisers in July and integrate some of the features into general-purpose ad products later in the year, they said.

The announcement marks the Facebook and Instagram owner's first foray into rolling out products that use generative AI technology, which mines vast stores of past data to generate new content like prose, art and software code.

A frenzy of interest and investment has swirled around the technology since Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI launched chatbot ChatGPT in the fall.

Meta's announcement came a day after its top digital ads rival, Alphabet's Google, said it would start offering integrations of the technology in its search, email and photo products.

(Reporting by Katie Paul and Sheila Dang in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

   

Next In Tech News

ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode is coming to web browsers
Elon Musk blasts Australia's planned ban on social media for children
Bitcoin's wild ride toward $100,000
OpenAI considers taking on Google with browser, the Information reports
One tech tip: How to get started with Bluesky
FCC proposes fining Chinese video doorbell manufacturer after security concerns raised
Snap seeks to dismiss New Mexico lawsuit over child safety
Crypto industry jockeys for seats at Trump's promised council
Reddit back up after latest outage impacts thousands of users
Massachusetts student's punishment for AI use can stand, US judge rules

Others Also Read