Meta announced that it’ll start looking at your chats with its AI bots to show more spot-on ads and content on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Notifications kick off October 7, and the privacy update hits December 16. For example, chat about hiking? You might see gear ads or group suggestions. But this skips human chats and won’t touch sensitive stuff like politics or health. No opting out, though you can tweak other ad settings. It won’t apply in the EU, UK, or South Korea due to privacy rules.
How It Works and What’s Safe
The AI chat data helps make recommendations more useful, like linking accounts across apps for better personalization. Meta promises no mic listening—Instagram boss Adam Mosseri called that a “gross violation of privacy.” Privacy chief Christy Harris said existing rules on sensitive info still hold.
Who Gets It and When?
Starts for most users worldwide on December 16, but skips Europe, UK, and South Korea. Notifications begin October 7 to give folks a heads-up.
A Shift in Privacy and Ads
This is Meta’s first dive into AI chats for ads, aiming to cut down on junk content. It’s part of a bigger push to make platforms smarter, but it raises questions about data use—one chat at a time.
