By AXIOS
Published on May 02, 2025
Mark Zuckerberg and Meta are pitching a vision of AI chatbots as an extension of your friend network and a potential solution to the “loneliness epidemic.”
Why it matters: Meta’s approach to AI raises the broader question of just whose interest chatbots are serving — especially when the bot has access to the details of your life and the company’s business depends on constantly boosting the time you spend with it.
Driving the news: Facebook’s parent company on Tuesday debuted a new mobile app that transforms the Meta AI chatbot into a more social experience, including the ability to share AI-generated creations with friends and family. But Zuckerberg also sees the AI bot itself as your next friend.