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Facebook created M to intrigue developers

Facebook’s AI virtual assistant M holds the code that will power chat bots

by: IT Pro team

13 Apr 2016

Facebook is to add artificial intelligence to its Messenger app via "chatbots". The move could automate the way businesses deal with customer enquiries.

At Facebook's F8 developer conference, David Marcus, Facebook Messenger's head, revealed that some of the technology used in M will be available to developers via a Bot Engine.

The bots will be available to businesses and should provide a wide variety of services such as automated subscriptions, news updates, shipping notifications, customised communications and more. These bots will communicate with live automated messages to interact with consumers who plan to use Facebook Messenger to facilitate their lives.

Zuckerberg boasted at F8 that Messenger users will be able to order from services like 1-800-Flowers through a simple text conversation.

"To order from 1-800-Flowers, you never have to call 1-800-Flowers again," Zuckerberg said.

The services that are to be offered within the Messenger app will be able to collect more data for Facebook giving them further opportunities to capitalise on the desires of their users.

Facebook also plans to further develop its new Live Video feature, already having added a prominent video tab that enables its users to access live videos from friends and celebrities.

As outlined at F8, Zuckerberg stated that Facebook's Messenger app and Live Video will be further developed over the next five years. Over the next ten years, they plan to focus on connectivity, AI, and augmented reality.