M (virtual assistant)

M was a virtual assistant by Facebook, first announced in August 2015, that can automatically complete tasks for users, such as purchase items, arrange gift deliveries, reserve restaurant tables, and arrange travel. By April 2017, it was available to about 10,000 users. It works inside the Facebook Messenger instant messaging service.[1][2][3][4][5]

M
Developer(s)Facebook

When a user makes a request for M, it uses algorithms to determine what the user wants. If M doesn't understand, a human takes over the conversation, unbeknownst to the user. This allows M to learn.[1]

Alex Lebrun runs the project, which began in 2015, and which in April 2017 the MIT Technology Review called "successful".[1]

In January 2018, Facebook announced that they would be discontinuing M.[6] The company stated that what they learned from M would be applied to other artificial intelligence projects at Facebook.[7]

Rollout of suggestions

In April 2017, Facebook enabled suggestions, powered by M, for users in the United States. M scans chats for keywords and then suggests relevant actions. For example, a user writing "You owe me $20" to a friend triggers M to enable the user's friend to pay the user via Facebook's payment platform.[8][9][10]

See also

References
  1. Simonite, Tom (2017-04-14). "Intelligent Machines Facebook's Perfect, Impossible Chatbot". Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technology Review.
  2. IANS. "Facebook developing 'perfect' chatbot". Indian Express.
  3. Olanoff, Drew; Constine, Josh (August 26, 2015). "Facebook Is Adding A Personal Assistant Called "M" To Your Messenger App". TechCrunch. AOL. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  4. Kelly, Heather (August 26, 2015). "Facebook made its own Siri: Meet M". CNN. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  5. Hempel, Jessi (August 26, 2015). "Facebook Launches M, Its Bold Answer to Siri and Cortana". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. Kozlowska, Hanna (8 January 2018). "Facebook is shuttering M, its personal assistant aided by AI and humans". Quartz. Atlantic Media. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  7. Newton, Casey (8 January 2018). "Facebook is shutting down M, its personal assistant service that combined humans and AI". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  8. Statt, Nick (April 6, 2017). "Facebook's AI assistant will now offer suggestions inside Messenger". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  9. Lee, Nicole (April 6, 2017). "Facebook's AI assistant is ready to hang out in Messenger". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  10. Constine, Josh (April 6, 2017). "Facebook Messenger's AI 'M' suggests features to use based on your convos". TechCrunch. AOL. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
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