You probably don't remember, but almost two years ago, Facebook introduced a digital assistant for its Messenger app called M.
Now the feature is finally launching for all iOS and Android users in the US. But the version of M launching today is not the same M we heard about in August 2015. Back then, M was powered by artificial intelligence and actual people. Now, Facebook has taken its human "M trainers" out of the mix.
The new version of M is completely automated, and will appear in your chats to make you aware of Messenger features you might not have known about.
"To experience M, simply chat with a friend or a group as you normally would," Facebook Messenger Product Managers Laurent Landowski and Kemal El Moujahid explained in a blog post. As you chat, "M may make a suggestion in a conversation."
If you say "thank you" or "goodbye," for instance, M may suggest some stickers you can send your friend. It also recognizes when you're talking about money and may give you the option to send or request payment via Messenger.
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If you're telling a friend where you are, M may suggest the option to share your location. Or, if you're talking about going somewhere, M may ask you if you want to book an Uber or Lyft.
Meanwhile, if you're having a hard time reaching a consensus in a group conversation, M may suggest that you create a poll so everyone can vote. For a look at what M can do, check out the video below.
Landowski and Moujahid said M will get better at what it does over time. If you're not into its suggestions, you can simply ignore or dismiss them. You can also mute M entirely in settings.
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