Facebook ‘M’ Virtual Assistant for Messenger Launches in Canada

First launched in the US back in April, Facebook’s ‘M’ virtual assistant is now available for Messenger users in Canada. M relies on AI machine learning techniques and is capable of learning the more it is used. The virtual assistant automatically pops up into conversations to suggest contextual content and capabilities, “in order to enrich the way people communicate and get things done”. 

According to Facebook, M uses machine learning to better understand your preferences and refine suggestions to ensure they are even more relevant and personalized. M suggestions have been getting smarter ever since its launch and is now rolling out to all Canadian users. Initially, it will include the following suggestions:

• Sending stickers – M shares fun sticker suggestions for your daily life interactions like “Thank you” or “Bye-bye.”
• Sharing location – If someone asks “where are you” or if you say something like “on my way!”, M can suggest that you share your location during a conversation.
• Making a plan – If people are talking about getting together, M helps with coordinating a plan.
• Creating a poll (in group conversations only) – Have a hard time making decisions in a group? M lets you set a poll topic and vote in group conversations.
• Birthdays – If the person you are talking with in a one-on-one thread on Messenger has a birthday, M will surface a suggestion to send them a Birthday Wish— a birthday sticker, wish, card, or video with accompanying birthday art effects.
• Saved – M will proactively suggest that people save content in their Messenger conversations, which they can read, watch or share later. In addition to URLs, M can suggest saving other content such as videos, Facebook posts, events, and pages. And with the Messenger ‘Saved’ extension you can easily share content in 1:1 or group messages.
• Initiating call/video – If people are chatting 1:1 or in a group and express intent to make a call, M will suggest a voice or video call in Messenger. So, for example, if someone says “want to call me?” M will surface this suggestion.

To learn more about M suggestions, click here.