Meta Launches AI Chatbot to EU Users

After a series of delays in order to ensure compliance with EU’s more complex data usage rules, Meta has now announced the initial launch of its Meta AI chatbot to EU users.

Though it will be a lesser form of the AI tools that are available to users outside the region.

As per Meta:

“It’s taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system – but we’re glad we’re finally here. Over the coming weeks, we’ll take the first step in making Meta AI’s chat function available in six European languages, with a view to finding parity with the US and expanding our offering over time.”

European users of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp will see the Meta AI icon appearing in their search options, while users will also be able to call on @MetaAI in their chats for easy access. Meta’s also launching the same to U.K. users.

The main variance, however, is that Meta’s AI tools are not being trained on EU user data, in compliance with the currently under review EU regulations.

But even with this proviso, it’s a significant step.

Meta’s been battling EU regulators over the rollout of its AI tools, amid complaints from data protection groups and privacy campaigners.

Last year, Meta was forced to shelve its European AI rollout plans after advocacy group NOYB called for further assessment of the privacy implications of Meta’s AI tools, and the construction of its large language models.

Meta’s also facing various legal challenges over the use of copyright-protected material within its LLM development (including in France), and European authorities were urged to get ahead of this before it became a problem, by assessing Meta’s plans before a full launch was approved.

Which Meta says is impeding AI development.

Last September, Meta was one of several signatories to an open letter which criticized Europe’s data regulations, claiming that they are strangling innovation, and leaving EU users behind the rest of the developed world.

As per the letter:

“In recent times, regulatory decision-making has become fragmented and unpredictable, while interventions by the European Data Protection Authorities have created huge uncertainty about what kinds of data can be used to train AI models. This means that the next generation of open-source AI models, and products and services that we build on them, won’t understand or reflect European knowledge, culture or languages.”

This is just one of the reasons why Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been looking to appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, in the hope that Trump will back Meta in its ongoing battle against EU authorities over their increasingly stringent regulations.

And that looks to be yielding results already. The Trump Administration has signaled to EU authorities that it will counter what it sees as over-reaching regulations with trade penalties, while Vice President JD Vance told a Paris summit on AI last month that the White House will fight against excessive regulation.

That could be part of what‘s enabled this first AI push from Meta, which will bring its popular chatbot to millions more users.

“Having a reliable and intelligent assistant is already proving to be one of the real values that this generation of AI creates – giving everyone an opportunity to have an assistant that people can engage with throughout their daily lives to enhance social experiences and unlock new possibilities.”

Indeed, Meta says that over 700 million people now engage with its AI chatbot every month, making it the most used AI assistant.

I’m not sure how accurate that is, as sometimes, Meta AI answers questions in your search queries, without you intending to ask it. But Zuck and Co. are determined to dominate the AI race. And in order to do that, Europe is another key market.

Meta still has a way to go in fully enabling its AI push in the region, but this is a key first step, which could also spark more calls for wider access from EU users.