In an exciting development for tech enthusiasts, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has announced that renowned actress Dame Judi Dench and WWE superstar John Cena will be among the voice options for its innovative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. This new venture aims to make interactions with AI more engaging and lifelike for users.

Alongside Dench and Cena, users will also have the choice of chatting with AI avatars of popular celebrities including Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kristen Bell. This rollout is a part of Meta's strategy to redefine how users engage with AI technology, taking into account the lessons learned from previous attempts.

In September 2023, Meta launched a similar initiative featuring AI chatbots inspired by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Snoop Dogg but had to retract the program within a year due to lackluster reception. During the company's annual Connect conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed optimism about this latest move, noting, "I think that voice is going to be a way more natural way of interacting with AI than text."

The new chatbot will not only provide conversational interactions but will also come equipped with features that allow it to recognize objects in photographs taken by users and provide relevant information. Additionally, an image editing capability will enable users to request specific alterations to their photos simply by describing the desired changes to the Meta AI.

As per Meta's latest statistics, over 400 million people are now engaging with Meta AI on a monthly basis, with 185 million of those users returning weekly. This showcases a growing interest in AI-driven technologies.

In an impressive display of innovation, Zuckerberg also revealed the latest prototype of Meta's augmented-reality (AR) glasses, dubbed Orion. He described the technology as "the craziest technology they've ever seen," highlighting the glasses' capacity for hand-tracking and voice command interactions.

Moreover, Meta introduced an affordable variant of its Quest series of mixed-reality headsets, with the new Quest 3S launching at a competitive price point starting at $300. Despite many technology giants venturing into AR glasses production, successful mass-market releases remain elusive.

Investment in AI, AR, and metaverse technologies has surged, with Meta reportedly planning to spend up to $40 billion on new projects this year—a staggering investment that reflects the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancement.

Meanwhile, in an unexpected turn, as Meta geared up for its annual showcase, a misinformation campaign swept through social media. Thousands of Facebook and Instagram users, including celebrities, shared a misleading post claiming that users must repost to prevent Meta from using their content for AI training. Stars like James McAvoy and Tom Brady were caught up in the confusion. However, a Meta spokesperson clarified that users have the option to object to content usage by completing an objection form, not through reposting.

With this intriguing new development, Meta is poised to reshape user interaction and engagement in the AI sphere—will you be ready to chat with your favorite celebrity soon?