Meta intensifies its efforts in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) with the internal development of a new tool for businesses. The AI program "Metamate," based on Meta's large language model Llama, is already being used by employees for programming, research, and creating internal and external communication. The goal is to increase productivity and gain insights into the use of AI in a business context.
Prashant Ratanchandani, Vice President of Engineering at Meta and Head of Metamate Development, stated that there are currently no external market plans for the tool. However, it is intended to lay the foundation for future enterprise AI products. "We want to develop the best enterprise assistant in the world," he said.
The demand for so-called AI agents that can perform complex tasks for users is growing rapidly. According to MarketsandMarkets, the market will grow from the current $5.1 billion to $47 billion by 2030. In this highly competitive field, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are also competing with advanced offerings.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made AI a central element of the company's strategy.
Analysts see the possibility of monetizing Meta's open language model Llama, for example through standardized applications for companies. However, Metamate lags behind products from Google or Microsoft, which already offer more autonomous functions like meeting assistance or calendar synchronization.
Employees at Meta regularly use Metamate, for example for programming or preparing for clients. Despite its potential, market maturity remains unclear. Ratanchandani emphasized that Metamate is being further developed, particularly towards a more comprehensive AI assistant. Currently, however, the productivity effect cannot yet be conclusively assessed.
In the long term, the widespread adoption of AI tools remains a challenge. An analysis by Goldman Sachs predicts that significant productivity gains from AI will only be realistic from 2027 onwards. Industry experts also express doubts whether Meta, primarily known as an ad-based social media platform, can establish itself as a leading provider of enterprise solutions.
