Meta launches AI app for Mac — Here’s why that’s dangerous
Meta has launched an assistant for Mac (photo: Unsplash)
Meta has released a standalone desktop application, Meta AI, for Mac. The new tool is aimed at entrepreneurs, content creators, and active users of Facebook and Instagram, reports Meta.
What can the new application do?
The developers at Meta have created a desktop version of the AI in the form of a full-fledged application, rather than just a ported mobile program.
To use the assistant, you need to have an account with Meta's services – Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or WhatsApp.
The program is compatible with PCs based on Apple Silicon processors running macOS 15 or later.
Key new features include:
- The ability to show the AI assistant specific windows or parts of the screen for analyzing current tasks;
- System control via voice commands and dictation in any application;
- Integration with analytics and advertising tools for assessing reach and publication performance;
- Connecting profiles to Google Workspace for quick processing of documents, spreadsheets, and other work files.
Meta notes that the AI is capable of analyzing context that is only available within a specific account, as well as comparing metrics with public competitor data.
Monetization and limitations
Downloading and using the basic functions of the AI application remain free. At the same time, developers are gradually introducing limits on the use of more complex computing operations.
If a user exceeds the daily or monthly query limit, the system will offer a Meta One paid subscription. The company emphasizes that the development is intended to become a full-fledged autopilot for business operations.
Main risks
Along with useful functionality, the issue of personal data protection arises.
The developers note that any data a user shares with the assistant may be used to train future AI models.
Meta promises not to use content from private messages for training algorithms unless the user has explicitly granted access.
However, information from posts, photos, captions, as well as data from connected external services or screen sharing, is subject to automatic processing.
