As Meta works to close the gap in the artificial intelligence landscape and drive greater interaction with its AI assistant, the company revealed on Monday that it is introducing fresh AI capabilities on Facebook designed to reshape how people search for information, generate content, and engage with the platform. The most significant addition is "AI Mode," a novel search function that leverages Meta AI to deliver responses sourced from public content across the platform, including posts from Groups and Reels. Rather than sifting through a list of search results, users can pose a question in everyday language and receive a consolidated answer drawn from real discussions happening among users.

This development follows Meta's quiet debut last month of Forum, an app reminiscent of Reddit that features its own AI "Ask" tab, enabling users to submit questions and obtain answers derived from conversations occurring within Facebook Groups. Both AI Mode and Forum's Ask tab raise a familiar concern: how trustworthy are answers generated from public posts and group conversations? Since the AI summarizes content from ordinary users rather than verified sources, there is a genuine risk that outdated or inaccurate information could slip through—a worry already voiced regarding Google's AI Mode on Reddit. Beyond search, Facebook has also introduced editing tools that allow users to experiment with collage cutouts and transition effects for their video compilations. Another addition is AI-driven photo presets, which let users alter their appearance with different clothing, hairstyles, and accessories. For example, sports enthusiasts can virtually wear their favorite team jerseys simply by tapping the "AI Edit" icon in Stories and selecting "Wear It," or by going directly to their profile picture and choosing "Restyle profile picture with AI" followed by "Wardrobe."

These updates expand a growing roster of AI features Meta has rolled out on Facebook in recent months. In February, the company launched animated profile pictures that breathe life into static images—adding a wave or placing a virtual party hat on someone's head. In March, Meta introduced an AI feature for Facebook Marketplace that automatically responds to buyer inquiries on behalf of sellers. Most recently, earlier this month, Facebook unveiled an AI assistant for creators that offers tailored recommendations—such as optimal posting times and summaries of audience feedback in comments—based on a creator's content and performance history. Taken together, this flurry of releases points to a broader strategy: Meta aims for Facebook's AI tools to make the platform more engaging and valuable, while also exploring new revenue streams. Alongside these feature launches, the company recently introduced global subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—starting at $3.99 per month—that unlock extra capabilities, with additional AI-related subscription tiers reportedly in development.