Post 22: Thanks for the memories, part 2, (or . . . no thanks?)

So, I know I said just yesterday that I was going to stay away from current events. But this one is closer to what I want to talk about and ties directly to Post 19: Thank you. . . for the memories from a couple days ago.

Meta announced on Monday that it is implementing its own memory feature to its chatbot on Messenger, WhatsApp, (and maybe Facebook and Instagram, the post is ambiguous on that point in my opinion but certainly something is happening on those platforms as well. . .).

Let me say for transparency's sake that I have a Facebook account and I occasionally use Messenger and WhatsApp. Functionally speaking, Facebook really annoys me mostly because of the advertising, (there are a lot of other things about Meta in general that trouble me, but I will most leave those aside for this post). I can’t stand it that I have to scroll through so much garbage to actually see what the people I follow are doing. My purpose in using Facebook (when I did use it more) was also not to follow influencers, I can get that on other apps if I want, my purpose was to stay in touch with people I would have otherwise fallen out of touch with. . . something that it seems to me Facebook does increasingly less well all the time. So, basically, I keep my account so I don’t lose (theoretical) contact with a LOT of people from my past.

Anyway, I believe this is one of those many times when the dialogue with the LLM communicates the point of the post as well as me going on for too long here, but let me just synopsize by saying:

1. Meta is now officially remembering things you tell its AI unless you opt out. (What it does unofficially regardless of your opt out is a matter for speculation. . .)

2. Meta is going to review your Facebook (Instagram, All Meta platforms,) profiles and use that data to tailor suggestions from its chatbot to you, (and I am guessing vice-versa, though this isn’t explicitly said, it will use what it learns from your chats to continue direct advertising to you across its platforms. . .)

3. The post also doesn’t say this explicitly, but based on the way it words “Delivering great content recommendations is an important part of what makes Facebook and Instagram valuable for people around the globe” and its past practices, it certainly implies that at least some of these great content recommendations it gives you when you ask it's AI chatbot/assistant for advice will be paid for by sponsors.

So. . . wrapping this up: Meta’s chatbots across platforms will (likely) not be a neutral assistant, but something that tries to direct its users towards behavior that enriches Meta. (I know, I know, shocking! LOL!)