AI News Monitor

As Meta continues to push the boundaries of AI, its open-source approach and focus on accessibility are poised to bring transformative changes to both businesses and consumers, reshaping daily life in profound ways.

Meta Platforms, a frontrunner among U.S. tech giants, is making significant strides in generative AI and large language models (LLMs), with a focus on open-source development that allows its innovations to be shared globally. The company’s Llama LLMs, already downloaded over 800 million times by developers worldwide, are set to reach new heights with the upcoming release of Llama 4. This next-generation AI will power advanced AI agents capable of reasoning, web surfing, and handling complex tasks for both consumers and businesses.

Clara Shih, Meta’s head of business AI, emphasized the rapid pace of AI evolution, stating, “It’s not just daily. It’s evolving multiple times a day.” Shih highlighted Meta’s commitment to democratizing AI, particularly for small businesses that lack the resources to build their own AI teams. “We’re building business AIs so that even small businesses can benefit from this innovation,” she told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin in an interview.

Meta’s AI is already used by over 700 million consumers, and Shih envisions a near future where every business, regardless of size, will have an AI agent representing it. “Just like businesses today have websites and email addresses, they’ll soon have AI agents acting on their behalf,” she said. These agents will automate tasks, engage customers, and provide 24/7 concierge-like services, transforming how businesses operate.

For consumers, AI assistants will handle everything from product research to trip planning and social event coordination, rivaling tools like OpenAI’s recently launched Operator AI. On the business side, Shih pointed to Meta’s vast reach, with 200 million small businesses already using its platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. AI will soon help these businesses automate repetitive tasks, find new customers, and deepen customer relationships.

Shih also addressed the broader implications of AI on the workforce, predicting that AI will transform every job function across every industry. “Just as the internet and mobile changed every profession, AI will do the same,” she said. Her advice to individuals and companies is to embrace AI, experiment with it, and understand its potential impact on their roles.

The good news, according to Shih, is that AI itself can simplify the learning process. “You can talk to it. You can ask it to explain complex topics at different levels, and it’ll break it down for you,” she said, sharing how she uses Meta AI to stay updated on the latest research and developments.

As Meta continues to push the boundaries of AI, its open-source approach and focus on accessibility are poised to bring transformative changes to both businesses and consumers, reshaping daily life in profound ways.