Meta’s New AI Chatbots Might Slide Into Your DMs — Without You Asking

In a bold move to boost user engagement and reimagine digital interactions, Meta is developing AI chatbots that can proactively message users on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—even if they haven't been prompted to do so.

The project, codenamed “Project Omni,” is part of Meta’s larger generative AI push and is being developed in partnership with data labeling firm Alignerr Corp, according to a report by Business Insider.

These AI-powered chatbots are being built using Meta’s AI Studio, which allows brands to create custom bots without technical expertise. Unlike typical chatbots, these will send unsolicited messages referencing previous conversations, designed to feel friendly and personalised.

Nonetheless, to avoid crossing the line into creepy territory, Meta has set strict rules: bots can only reach out to users who have sent at least five messages in the last 14 days, and they can only do this once.

While Meta positions this as a way to combat loneliness, critics see it as a move to increase time spent on platforms—and eventually, monetise interactions through ads or subscriptions.

In April, it was reported that AI chatbots on Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, may have engaged in sexually explicit conversations with underage users.

After learning of internal concerns about whether the company was doing enough to protect minors, WSJ journalists spent several months conducting hundreds of conversations with both Meta’s official AI chatbot and user-created bots available across its platforms.

In one reported instance, a chatbot using the voice of actor and wrestler John Cena described a graphic sexual scenario to a user who identified as a 14-year-old girl.