Meta Platforms has paused the launch of its latest artificial intelligence technology in Britain and the European Union due to concerns over fragmented AI regulations.
The new AI products, such as smart glasses and a digital assistant, will be launched in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, their rollout in Europe will be delayed.
Meta pointed to ambiguity regarding the data used to train AI models as the cause for the delayed launch. An open letter from 59 tech companies, Meta included, cautioned that inconsistent regulation could cause Europe to lag in the AI competition. Other signatories, such as Ericsson and Spotify, contended that Europe’s competitiveness has decreased relative to other regions.
Meta AI is anticipated to debut in the UK before the EU as it advances with its strategy to utilize public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram to train its AI models. However, the Information Commissioner’s Office has voiced concerns about the data usage, prompting Meta to make it easier for users to opt out of data processing. In the EU, regulators have claimed that Meta’s plans fail to meet privacy and transparency standards.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed at the company’s Connect conference that Meta AI, the company’s rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, already has 400 million monthly users, despite not being available in Europe. He also introduced the first prototype of Meta’s augmented-reality glasses, Orion.
Meta delays AI launch in UK and EU amid regulatory uncertainty (bmmagazine.co.uk)
