Meta AI is more of the same: A tool to collect personal data and sell products

As Meta pushes forward with its new AI assistant, the company promises a personalized, conversational tool designed to help users navigate daily life. But behind the friendly interface of Meta AI lies a more familiar goal: harvesting personal data for profit. Unlike privacy-focused alternatives, Meta’s chatbot operates within an ecosystem built on data-driven advertising.

Meta AI is designed to collect your most private thoughts

Meta claims its new AI is “built to get to know you,” a phrase that takes on a darker meaning when examined closely. By default, the chatbot stores your interactions, making deletion a deliberate process. This approach stands in contrast to companies like Anthropic, which offer subscription-based models with stronger privacy protections. Meta’s longstanding business model—monetizing user behavior across its platforms—remains unchanged.

Conversations become advertising opportunities

Meta AI’s integration across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp creates a seamless pipeline from private chats to targeted ads. Even casual mentions of personal struggles could trigger tailored ads, blurring the line between digital assistant and corporate salesperson. Worse still, there’s no guarantee users will recognize such responses as advertising, especially when suggestions are embedded within a friendly chat.

Manipulation risks go beyond ads

Recent reports suggest Meta AI was tested with minimal safeguards, including allowing inappropriate role-play even with underage users. This reflects a broader concern: if Meta has historically prioritized growth over user safety, how will it handle an AI trained on emotional, private conversations? The potential for political or behavioral manipulation, especially with weakened U.S. AI regulations, cannot be ignored.

Meta AI may offer convenience, but its hidden cost is your data.