Meta trials Grok-style AI commentary feature on Threads in select markets
Users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina and Singapore can now interact with an official @meta.ai account that offers contextual replies, though safeguards allow them to mute or hide the bot's output.
Meta has begun testing a new feature on Threads that grants its Meta AI chatbot functionality similar to X's Grok. The update allows the artificial intelligence to reply to public posts with additional context using an official Threads account, @meta.ai. This early beta rollout is currently targeted at users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Singapore.
The premise mirrors the original intent of Grok, enabling the system to publicly comment on viral content. For instance, users could inquire why people are discussing a specific event, such as the World Cup, and the Meta AI would respond directly on the platform. The company notes that users can also invoke Meta AI directly within replies to other posts, a common use case observed on X where prominent replies often question the veracity of viral claims.
To facilitate these public interactions, Meta has established the official @meta.ai account within the application. However, acknowledging the potential challenges of giving an AI chatbot such visibility, the update includes specific user controls. Individuals can opt to mute the @meta.ai account entirely or choose to hide the AI's replies that appear beneath their own posts.
This Threads test is part of a broader push for the revamped Meta AI, which is now powered by the company's latest Muse Spark model. The same model is simultaneously powering "side chats" on WhatsApp, where the AI queries group context privately, and a new in-app version of Live AI. Previously exclusive to Meta's smart glasses, Live AI now allows users to ask questions about their surroundings through the app.
The deployment of the Muse Spark model extends beyond social media messaging. It is beginning to roll out to Ray-Ban and Oakley-branded smart glasses in the United States and Canada, with display-enabled frames expected to follow this summer. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also hinted at future plans for OpenClaw-like AI agents running on the model, signalling a significant expansion of Meta's artificial intelligence capabilities.
While Meta has historically positioned its AI safeguards as more cautious than those employed by X, concerns remain regarding user-driven manipulation. On X, Grok has faced criticism for generating harmful content, including pro-Nazi rants and child abuse material. Meta's approach aims to balance the utility of contextual AI responses with the need to maintain safety standards across its ecosystem.
