Meta is experimenting with an AI bot intended to replicate the same online foolishness seen with AskGrok on X.
Threads is launching its own version of AskGrok, and it's already stirred up some debate.
Meta is piloting a new feature that allows its AI chatbot to have a specific Threads account, @meta.ai, which users can tag directly in their posts and responses. The bot will respond publicly, providing additional context, suggestions, or information on the topic being discussed.
This concept closely resembles how AskGrok operates on X, where tagging the AI during a conversation has become second nature for millions of users. Currently, the feature is in early beta testing, available only to users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Singapore.
So, what can you do with the Meta AI bot on Threads?
You can tag @meta.ai in any post or reply and ask questions like “why is everyone talking about the Met Gala right now?” or “how are the Knicks faring in the playoffs?” The bot will acknowledge the mention and reply publicly within your thread.
It also responds in the original language of the post, which is convenient for a platform with a worldwide user base. This feature is powered by Meta’s latest Muse Spark model, the same one being deployed across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.
On WhatsApp, Meta is testing a similar yet private version called “side chats,” where users can inquire about their group discussions, with responses visible only to them—unlike Threads where everything is public.
So, what could potentially go wrong, and has it happened before?
A lot, if Grok’s history is any indication. Grok faced considerable backlash after producing non-consensual sexualized images of real individuals on X. This backlash ultimately led X to implement a toggle feature that allows users to block Grok from modifying their photos.
Meta has generally enforced stricter regulations on its AI compared to X's approach with Grok. However, introducing such a visible AI chatbot on a public social platform could lead to the same chaos that X has been trying to manage for months.
Threads users wasted no time demonstrating this issue—within hours of @meta.ai launching, they found they couldn't block it, resulting in over a million frustrated posts on the platform.
Manisha Priyadarshini is a tech and entertainment writer with over nine years of editorial experience.
Users are frustrated that they cannot block Meta’s AI bot on Threads, feeling they have lost control over their feeds. Meta introduced its AI chatbot on Threads recently, but it comes with an unexpected drawback. The new @meta.ai account, as reported by Engadget, operates similarly to Grok on X. You can tag it in a discussion, and it will provide insights on trending topics, live sports, entertainment, or breaking news.
Meta has also rolled out a disappearing photo feature called Instants on Instagram, drawing inspiration from Snapchat and BeReal. This feature, which allows users to share unedited disappearing photos with Close Friends or mutual followers, is now available globally on iOS and Android.
Additionally, Instagram is enhancing its measures related to teen safety by providing parents with insights into how their teens' feeds are shaped by algorithms, including those affecting Reels and Explore. This initiative represents a shift in Instagram's safety focus, moving beyond just messaging to include the recommendation system that influences what appears in feeds.
Other articles
After a misstep with Siri, Apple intends to offer AI agents on the App Store.
Developers lack confidence in Apple's pledge regarding Siri's commission. Apple is unsure of how to effectively approve AI agents securely. With WWDC just three weeks away, a resolution needs to be found.
Flo Health introduces perimenopause tools following a survey that reveals 66% of women felt better equipped for puberty.
Flo Health's latest perimenopause suite aims at an 80 million user base, offering symptom scoring, timeline monitoring, and options for relief. A survey by Wakefield revealed that many women feel less equipped to handle perimenopause compared to puberty.
BCG educates AI sales agent Jamie on its top-selling products as well as its biggest errors.
BCG's AI agent Jamie analyzes call transcripts from top sellers as well as their least effective habits. Vercel has already reduced its SDR team from 10 to 1 by utilizing a similar method.
Framework is increasing the prices of RAM and storage modules once more.
The monthly price update for the framework has arrived, and storage is experiencing the most significant decrease. The affordable inventory for 2025 is almost depleted, and a complete repricing will occur next month.
Palantir is experiencing a departure of investors and a rejection from the German military as its narrative begins to unravel.
Retail investors sold off $82 million worth of Palantir shares as they shifted their focus to memory chips, while Germany removed the company from its defense cloud. Karp referred to the discussion as 'witchcraft'.
Canva report: almost all marketers utilize AI, yet consumers still seek a human connection.
Canva's 2026 report reveals that 97% of marketers utilize AI on a daily basis, yet 78% of consumers favor ads created by humans. The term "AI slop" has seen a ninefold increase in mentions.
Meta is experimenting with an AI bot intended to replicate the same online foolishness seen with AskGrok on X.
Meta is experimenting with an AI bot on Threads that functions similarly to Grok on X, publicly replying to user mentions within discussions.