Meta Platforms Inc. is developing an AI-driven search engine for Meta AI, the chatbot embedded across its social platforms, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. This move signals that the company is strategically shifting to loosen its reliance on Google and Microsoft’s Bing.
As reported by The Information, Meta’s planned AI-based search engine is intended to provide real-time conversational responses to users on current events. This would mark a departure from its present dependency on Google and Bing for delivering information on topics such as news, stock updates, and sports.
The shift reflects a broader industry trend toward integrating generative AI into search engines as companies seek to meet the rising demand for more interactive and dynamic search experiences.
While Meta has yet to comment publicly on this new direction, sources indicate that this AI-powered web crawler will be embedded within the Meta AI chatbot, giving users direct access to on-demand information without redirecting them to external search engines.
Meta’s entry into the AI search space adds to the heated competition between major players such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, each of which has aggressively pursued advancements in AI-driven search capabilities.
Google, for example, has integrated its advanced AI model, Gemini, into its core search platform. This aims to enhance the user experience by providing more conventional and intuitive responses to search queries.
OpenAI, meanwhile, leverages Microsoft’s Bing for real-time web access to answer time-sensitive topics through ChatGPT, thanks to Microsoft’s substantial investment in the company.
As AI-based search technology advances, concerns have been raised about data usage, specifically regarding copyright and fair compensation for content creators. Scraping web data to train AI models and feed search engines with real-time information has led to ongoing discussions about fair use and the need to protect creators’ rights.
By decreasing its dependency on Google and Microsoft, Meta aims to carve out a unique position in the AI search sector and provide its users with more autonomous and brand-integrated services.
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