Meta Develops Own AI Search Engine to Cut Reliance on Google, Bing, the Information Reports

The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP)
The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP)
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Meta Develops Own AI Search Engine to Cut Reliance on Google, Bing, the Information Reports

The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP)
The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP)

Meta Platforms is working on an artificial intelligence-based search engine as it looks to reduce dependence on Alphabet's Google and Microsoft's Bing, the Information reported on Monday.
The AI search engine segment is heating up with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Google and Microsoft all vying for dominance in the rapidly evolving market, according to Reuters.
Meta's web crawler will provide conversational answers to users about current events on Meta AI, the company's chatbot on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, according to the report, which cited a person involved with the strategy.
The Facebook-owner currently relies on Google and Bing search engines to give users answers on news, stocks and sports.
Meta did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Google is aggressively integrating its latest and most powerful AI model, Gemini, into core products like Search, aiming to deliver more conversational and intuitive search experiences.
OpenAI relies on its largest investor, Microsoft, for web access to answer topical queries, using its Bing search engine.
Scraping web data to train AI models and search engines, however, has raised concerns about copyright infringement and fair compensation for content creators.



China Welcomes Apple's Continued, Deeper Presence

Shen Xinyi (C), a student at Zhejiang University, introduces a "science and technology backyard" to Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) and chief operating officer Jeff Williams (R), at an organic farm in Shunyi District, Beijing, China, 22 October 2024 (issued 24 October 2024).  EPA/XINHUA / Cai Yang
Shen Xinyi (C), a student at Zhejiang University, introduces a "science and technology backyard" to Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) and chief operating officer Jeff Williams (R), at an organic farm in Shunyi District, Beijing, China, 22 October 2024 (issued 24 October 2024). EPA/XINHUA / Cai Yang
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China Welcomes Apple's Continued, Deeper Presence

Shen Xinyi (C), a student at Zhejiang University, introduces a "science and technology backyard" to Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) and chief operating officer Jeff Williams (R), at an organic farm in Shunyi District, Beijing, China, 22 October 2024 (issued 24 October 2024).  EPA/XINHUA / Cai Yang
Shen Xinyi (C), a student at Zhejiang University, introduces a "science and technology backyard" to Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) and chief operating officer Jeff Williams (R), at an organic farm in Shunyi District, Beijing, China, 22 October 2024 (issued 24 October 2024). EPA/XINHUA / Cai Yang

US tech giant Apple Inc is welcome to continue deepening its presence in the Chinese market, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told its Chief Executive Tim Cook during a meeting on Friday, the ministry said in a statement.
The remark mirrored the exchanges between China's Minister for Industry and Information Technology and Cook during a meeting earlier this week in Beijing.
China is willing to help return Sino-US economic and trade ties to a healthy and stable track of development through regular exchanges between government and enterprises, Wang added.
China will further optimize the business environment and continue to provide quality services for foreign enterprises, Wang said, but also told Cook that the highlighting of national security "is not conducive to normal economic and trade exchanges.”