In a move to improve social connections and enrich digital experiences, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, introduced Llama 3, a new artificial intelligence assistant designed to participate in conversations, make recommendations and improve user interactions.
Llama 3, which was initially only available in the United States, is now available in several African countries including Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with plans for further expansion.
Seamlessly integrated across all Meta platforms, the AI assistant leverages real-time search results from Bing and Google, allowing users to access up-to-date information during their online interactions. In addition, Llama 3 has impressive image creation capabilities, allowing users to create high-resolution images and animations simply by typing prompts.
Users can access the Meta AI assistant while scrolling through their Facebook feeds, asking for additional information about specific posts. In WhatsApp, AI can create high-quality images with enhanced text inclusion and provide helpful prompts for image modifications. As users provide more details about the desired image, the AI dynamically updates the visual output.
Additionally, AI has been introduced online at meta.ai, working similarly to ChatGPT, where users can log in and engage in conversational interactions with the assistant.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, expressed excitement about the AI assistant’s potential, stating, “With LLaMA 3, Meta AI will now be the smartest, freely available assistant. And because we’ve reached the level of quality we want, we’re now going to make it much more visible and easier to use across all our apps.”
Meta’s move aligns with a broader trend of tech giants embracing AI assistants. Last year, Microsoft integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its Bing search engine, while Google integrated AI into products like Docs, Gmail and Google Search.
This development could help AI development in Africa, where the AI sector has traditionally lagged behind in funding for startups. According to a Q1 2024 funding report, the artificial intelligence sector ranked tenth, receiving $4.6 million of the $176 million raised by African startups.
Both Nigeria and Kenya have recently taken steps to promote AI adoption. Nigeria has announced plans to recruit 120 experts to create a collaborative framework to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence, while Kenya has partnered with GIZ GmbH to develop a National Artificial Intelligence strategy.
As Meta’s Llama 3 AI assistant expands across the continent, it could potentially unlock new avenues for social connections, creative expression and access to information, shaping the digital landscape in Africa.