Meta Launches AI Assistant in EU Amid Regulatory Challenges

Meta is launching its generative AI assistant, Meta AI, in the European Union this week, more than a year after its initial release in the United States. The rollout comes after navigating the EU's complex regulatory environment, which delayed the introduction of the service. Meta AI will be available in 41 European countries, providing text-only responses to user queries, as the image generation feature remains exclusive to the US.

The AI assistant, which can also utilize web search for its answers, aims to assist users in exploring topics of interest or solving problems such as trip planning. Meta clarified that the AI was not trained on data from EU users, addressing concerns about data protection regulations in the region.

Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, previously highlighted the challenges posed by Europe's fragmented regulatory landscape. However, the company has now overcome these hurdles, allowing the AI assistant to operate in six languages across the EU. This launch underscores Meta's commitment to expanding its AI capabilities, with significant investments planned for data centers and infrastructure to support AI model development.