Threads tests a Meta AI integration that works similarly to Grok

Threads is testing a Meta AI integration that works similarly to X’s Grok. Users with a public account will be able to mention Meta AI in a post or a reply to get more context. The feature is currenty in beta testing in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Singapore. Meta told TechCrunch in an email that the feature is designed to help people get real-time context about trends and breaking stories, as well as receive recommendations, all within conversations. Now, users can mention Meta AI to ask questions like, “why are people talking about the World Cup this month?, “whose Met Gala looks are trending right now?” or “how are the Knicks doing in the playoffs?” Meta AI will then process the invocation and respond as a public reply authored by the @meta.ai account. Meta AI will respond in the language used in the post it was mentioned in. By integrating Meta AI into its platform, Threads is positioning itself as not just a destination for chatting about news and trends, but also a place where you can get information and recommendations without having to leave the app. The idea is similar to Grok’s role on X, which is filled with posts of users asking the AI chatbot questions like “is this real?” or “explain this.” Of course, giving an AI chatbot this level of visibility carries risks, as seen on X when Grok generated posts praising Hitler. …