Meta launched two new artificial intelligence-powered apps this week as the company ramps up its internal experiments by using its own internal AI models to generate app code faster.
One of the new apps, called Waddle World, is aimed at kids. It gives users the chance to engage with a virtual pet that can remember things users say and create content based on a user’s interests.
As explained by Meta: “Waddle World is a cozy, 16-bit pet care game that lives in your pocket. Hatch a pet, visit whenever you like, and let it get to know you. A modern take on Tamagotchi-style pet raising with no pressure, no streaks to protect, no scores to chase — just a warm little corner of your day.
Of course, this app is also collecting personal data, including location, contact info and user ID, according to the app’s iOS page.
It’s another way for Meta to get people comfortable engaging with AI-powered tools. Like its Muse AI agents, Waddle World is wrapped in a cute package, which feels somewhat disingenuous with respect to how the company is using these tools to gather data.
As reported by social media analyst Matt Navarra, Waddle World is currently only available to users in the Philippines.
Meta also launched Style Sketch, which uses AI to generate outfit combinations for users based on the clothes they already own.
In order to build a virtual portfolio of clothes for each user, Style Sketch integrates with Instagram and can extract clothing items from images the user has shared on IG.
Users can also manually add items that they own, and the Style Sketch system will come up with looks based on these items.
Navarra said that Style Sketch is only available in Indonesia, Singapore & Thailand.
Both apps are troubling because of the ongoing issues with AI tools making potentially dangerous recommendations to users.
Integrating that into a cute kids app feels like a concern. And while building a closet inventory may be valuable, it also feels like blatant data farming.
But Meta is excited about its potential to generate new apps using AI.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained this opportunity in Meta’s Q2 earnings call in July.
“I'm also excited about how AI is helping our teams speed up product development,” Zuckerberg said. “Earlier this year we shipped Instagram Instants. We also just launched Forum, a standalone Groups app, and Seller, a standalone Marketplace app. And I expect it to become a lot easier to ship new apps, so we're planning to build out more ideas and use our recommendation systems to scale them to the people who will find them interesting, as we've done with Threads.”
Zuckerberg added that AI is improving Meta’s core business, and has provided its teams with opportunities to deliver “more novel products.”
With AI tools facilitating the rapid development and deployment of new apps, Meta’s test apps also Pocket, which enables users to generate minigames; Vibes, which is a feed of AI-generated videos; and StoryKit, which generates bedtime stories,
Meta is also reportedly working on a new prediction markets app called Arena, though whether that actually makes it to a live launch remains to be seen.
Essentially, Meta is experimenting because its AI tools make it much easier for the company to throw things at a virtual wall and see what sticks. As such, it’s unlikely that most of these experimental apps will last for long, but a few of them might work out and provide Meta with another way to keep people engaged on its platforms.
