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Meta delays AI launch in UK and EU amid regulatory uncertainty

September 26, 2024

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 faces delays.

Meta cited uncertainty around the data that can be used to train AI models as the reason for the stalled launch. An open letter from 59 technology companies, including Meta, warned that Europe risks falling behind in the AI race due to inconsistent regulation. The signatories, which also included Ericsson and Spotify, argued that Europe has become less competitive compared to other regions.

Meta AI is expected to launch in the UK ahead of the EU as the company proceeds with 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 the data usage, leading 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, the company’s 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.