Meta Expands AI Chat Tools Beyond Facebook and Instagram to Third-Party Websites

Meta is breaking new ground by extending its AI-powered Business AI digital assistant beyond its own platforms to help companies enhance customer experiences on their websites. The tech giant announced this expansion on Thursday, marking a significant shift from its traditional advertising-focused business model.

What Meta's Business AI Offers

The Business AI digital assistant enables companies to provide personalized product recommendations and streamlined purchasing through chat interactions. Online retailers can now integrate this tool across Facebook, Instagram, and their own Shopify-powered websites.

Key features include:

• Free integration with Meta ads for product inquiries and purchases
• Paid options for third-party websites at competitive pricing
• Availability on WhatsApp and Messenger in Mexico and Philippines this month

Strategic Partnerships and Competition

Meta is collaborating with major enterprise players including Salesforce, Microsoft, ServiceNow, and Zendesk to provide comprehensive customer relationship management services. This move comes as competitors like Amazon debut similar AI agent solutions for third-party merchants.

"We are going beyond ads and beyond Meta to help businesses drive impact across their customer experiences and customer operations," said Clara Shih, Meta's head of business AI.

The Bigger Picture

This expansion represents CEO Mark Zuckerberg's massive investment in generative AI technology. The company aims to create new revenue streams while improving ad performance through enhanced customer interactions. Meta also launched a separate Meta AI business assistant to help advertisers manage accounts and track campaign performance.

Read the full article on CNBC