Meta has announced that it is to start using the content of your chats with Meta AI to serve up personalised ads on your smartphone or other connected device.
The company formerly known as Facebook has issued a post outlining a somewhat concerning change in its approach across its platforms, which include WhatsApp, Instagram, and of course Facebook.
From 16 December 16, Meta will start scanning your interactions with Meta AI and using the content to offer bespoke advertising, posts and reels. Naturally, Meta is framing this as a means to “improve people’s experience”.
“Whether it’s a voice chat or a text exchange with our AI features, this update will help us improve the recommendations we provide for people across our platforms so they’re more likely to see content they’re actually interested in,” the company explains.
It’ll start notifying people of these changes from 7 October. This is what the notifications will look like:
Meta
Is it really such a shift?
Meta posits that this is no different to the way that it notes when you like a page or post a reel about a certain subject. There’s something about the mining of voice chat and text exchanges that feels a little different, however, even if it is with an AI chatbot rather than another human contact.
The company does point out that you’ll have full control over these through the Ads Preference tool and other feed controls. It’s also possible to choose how you interact with Meta AI, though text or voice, and you’ll always see an indicator light when the microphone is in use.
Meta also asserts that it never uses Meta AI conversations involving sensitive topics such as “religious views, sexual orientation, political views, health, racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership” as metrics to present personalised ads.
With all that said, we’d still appreciate the ability to opt out. It doesn’t appear as if that’ll be an option, however.
Link do Autor