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Meta to Use AI Chat Data to Personalize Content and Ads Starting December

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Meta Platforms announced that beginning December 16, the company will start using users’ interactions with its generative AI tools to personalize both content and advertising across its major apps, including Facebook and Instagram.

The change — which will roll out globally except in the UK, the European Union, and South Korea — will apply to anyone who uses Meta AI, the company’s generative chatbot available via text or voice. Starting October 7, Meta will notify users of the update. However, there will be no option to opt out of this data integration.

AI INTERACTIONS TO SHAPE RECOMMENDATIONS

Meta said that user conversations with its AI — whether discussing travel, sports, or hobbies — will become an additional data signal alongside likes, follows, and other activity to help refine content recommendations and ad targeting.

For example, a user chatting with Meta AI about hiking might later see hiking-related groups, friends’ outdoor posts, or ads for hiking gear.
“People’s interactions simply are going to be another piece of the input that will inform the personalization of feeds and ads,” said Christy Harris, Meta’s privacy policy manager.

The company clarified that AI interactions involving sensitive topics — such as religion, sexuality, health, political affiliation, or ethnicity — will not be used for advertising purposes.

A MASSIVE PERSONALIZATION PUSH

The update is part of Meta’s broader strategy to make its AI ecosystem deeply integrated across all its apps. According to the company, Meta AI now has over 1 billion monthly active users, marking one of the fastest-growing AI deployments worldwide.

At the company’s annual shareholder meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the goal for 2025 is to make Meta AI the leading personal assistant, emphasizing personalization, natural voice interactions, and entertainment.

The integration comes amid a new phase of AI monetization among tech giants. Both Google and Amazon are already leveraging AI to boost cloud revenues, but Meta’s move is unique for its cross-platform scale and its decision to blend AI chat data with social and ad algorithms.

By combining behavioral, conversational, and contextual signals, Meta aims to offer advertisers more effective targeting while keeping users more engaged through hyper-personalized recommendations.

Apple Halts Vision Pro Overhaul to Focus on AI-Powered Smart Glasses

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Apple has paused development of its next-generation Vision Pro headset to redirect resources toward the creation of artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses, according to a report by Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the matter.

The company had been working on a cheaper and lighter version of its $3,499 Vision Pro — code-named N100 — with a tentative release window in 2027. However, Apple reportedly told employees last week that development teams will now shift their focus to an AI glasses project, accelerating its timeline to compete directly with Meta Platforms’ smart eyewear.

The decision reflects Apple’s changing strategy in the face of slowing Vision Pro sales. The mixed-reality headset, launched in February 2024, received strong initial attention but quickly lost momentum amid limited mainstream content and competition from more affordable alternatives like Meta’s Quest series.

TWO NEW GLASSES MODELS IN DEVELOPMENT

Apple is said to be working on two distinct smart glasses models:

  • N50, the first version, will connect to an iPhone and will not include a display. Apple aims to unveil this model as early as next year, with a public release planned for 2027.

  • A second, more advanced model — equipped with a built-in display — is now being fast-tracked for release around 2028, according to Bloomberg’s sources.

The advanced model is seen as Apple’s answer to Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased in September along with a new Oakley-branded “Vanguard” model designed for athletes.

Apple’s upcoming glasses will reportedly emphasize voice control and AI-driven functions, integrating tightly with iPhone services and Apple’s growing ecosystem of on-device intelligence.

SHIFTING STRATEGY IN THE AI ERA

The move highlights Apple’s broader push to catch up in artificial intelligence, an area where competitors such as Google and Meta have been more aggressive.

At Apple’s September product launch event, the company introduced new iPhones and a slimmer iPhone Air, but industry analysts noted the absence of major AI announcements, raising questions about Apple’s roadmap in the rapidly evolving AI market.

By contrast, Google’s Gemini-powered Pixel phones and Meta’s AI-integrated wearables have taken the spotlight in the consumer AI space.

When contacted by Reuters, Apple declined to comment on the report.

If the timeline holds, Apple’s shift could mark a major strategic pivot from mixed reality to wearable AI, positioning its smart glasses as a potential successor — not just a companion — to the iPhone.

Instagram Reaches 3 Billion Monthly Active Users, Zuckerberg Says

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday that Instagram has grown to 3 billion monthly active users, cementing its status as one of the world’s most widely used social media platforms.

The last time Meta disclosed Instagram’s user numbers was in 2022, when the app surpassed 2 billion monthly users.

Meta, then known as Facebook, acquired Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion—a deal that was initially met with skepticism since the app was focused mainly on photo sharing and generated little revenue. Since then, Instagram has become a central part of Meta’s business, with analysts estimating it could contribute over half of the company’s U.S. ad revenue this year.

A key driver of Instagram’s rapid growth has been Reels, the short-form video feature launched in 2020, which directly competes with TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, reported earlier this month that it has more than 1 billion monthly users worldwide, underscoring the intense competition in the short-video market.