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.
While the new AI products, including smart glasses and a digital assistant, will be rolled out in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Europe is facing delays.
Meta cited uncertainty surrounding the data that can be used to train AI models as the reason for the stalled launch. An open letter from 59 tech companies, including Meta, warned that Europe risks falling behind in the AI race due to inconsistent regulations. The signatories, which also include Ericsson and Spotify, argued that Europe has become less competitive compared to other regions.
Meta AI is expected to launch in Britain before the EU, as the company makes plans to use public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram to train its AI models. However, the Information Commissioner’s Office has raised questions about data usage, prompting Meta to simplify the process for users to opt out of data processing. In the EU, regulators have said Meta’s plans do not meet privacy and transparency requirements.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed at the company’s Connect conference that Meta AI, 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.