Meta AI is the tech giant’s standalone AI chatbot. It works much the same way as other AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc., but is integrated with Instagram and Facebook and can therefore draw upon each profile to tailor responses — which is both interesting and, well, creepy.
I’ll admit that until recently, I hadn’t given much thought to Meta AI, but Meta is investing a lot in the technology, and Meta AI is one of the top 10 most used AI tools according to a recent AI usage report. Therefore, it’s worth looking at from an education perspective, though, as with any AI tool, it's vital to make sure it is approved by your school or district’s IT team before using it in class, particularly with students.
Ultimately, I found that Meta AI was faster than the competition and performed as well, or almost as well, in most instances.
What Is Meta AI?
Meta AI is tech giant Meta’s standalone AI chatbot app that can be used in a browser or phone app. It has robust capabilities, including image generation and a talking mode that rivals the best around.
As mentioned previously, unlike other AI tools, it can draw upon each user's Facebook and Instagram profiles and, in theory, tailor better responses to each person as a result.
Another unique feature is that it has a discover mode, which is basically a social media feed of AI-generated text and images. Users can share their AI creations with others in this mode. The idea is this adds a social element to AI conversations and creations, though personally, I didn’t find this feature that fascinating—I’m hoping to see less AI-generated material on my social media feeds, not more.
How Much Does Meta AI Cost?
Meta AI is free. To use it, you need to go to Meta.AI on a browser or download the app and set up an account. You can also log in through an existing Facebook or Instagram account.
The process of setting up an account is quick and easy, and on the whole, Meta AI’s interface is a strength.
What Are Some Ways To Teach With Meta AI?
Meta AI works much the same way as other chatbots and can accomplish many of the same tasks.
For instance, for class prep it did a nice job generating quizzes related to subjects I teach, and a fair job with lesson plans, though ChatGPT outperformed it when I asked for a follow-up with specific examples. I teach writing, and when I prompted Meta AI for examples of unclear writing vs. clear writing I could share with my class, its examples were not that helpful. Meanwhile, when I made the same request to ChatGPT, it included a vague run-on sentence next to a well-written one.
Some teaching opportunities unique to Meta AI include working with students to analyze its tone. It's designed to be more social and seamless during interactions, so you can see if your students pick up on this--how is its voice different from ChatGPT or another AI chatbot?
Additionally, the way in which it integrates with the personal data of social media users provides a teachable and discussable moment.
What Makes Meta AI Unique?
Meta AI is really fast in its responses and can be accessed directly from other Meta apps, including Facebook and Instagram, which makes it really convenient to use.
In my experience, Meta AI provided shorter answers that were more to the point than ChatGPT, which was often a good thing when using it as an alternative to a search engine. This was less important when trying to get Meta AI to prepare potential class materials.
The social element of the app is another unique feature, but not one to which I was particularly drawn. I found scrolling through other users' AI AI-generated writings and artwork boring and had no desire to share my own AI creations.
That said, I could see a scenario in which particular groups of AI users might come together on a platform such as this. For instance, it could be helpful to be in a group dedicated to AI and education to see how other teachers are using these tools. Though a good old-fashioned Facebook group dedicated to AI in education might accomplish the same thing.
Meta and some reviewers have talked about Meta AI’s voice mode as a strength, and pointed to advantages over ChatGPT's voice mode. In my tests using the voice mode, I didn’t find it better than other voice AIs I’ve used—it was the same or maybe a little less lifelike.
Bottom Line: Would I Use Meta AI for My Own Teaching?
Sure. I like how fast it is relative to other tools, and its conversational tone is helpful in some settings when you don’t need a complete college-level dissertation. And there’s potential for the social element.
That all said, Meta AI is definitely not earth-shattering, and other than its speed, it seems to be outperformed by other tools available. So if AI is a big part of your teaching practice, I’d check this out, however, if you only use AI occasionally and already have a tool you like, there’s probably not a major reason to make the switch.
