Meta Developing AI-Powered Search Engine to Rival Google and Bing

Meta is reportedly working on a proprietary AI-powered search engine as part of an effort to reduce its reliance on Google and Microsoft’s Bing for search functionalities. According to an October 28 report from The Information, Meta’s engineering team has been quietly building a search engine that uses AI to generate summaries of current events and trending information, providing answers directly through Meta's AI chatbot.

Leveraging AI for Search and Real-Time Summaries

Currently, Meta’s chatbot—which integrates with Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—relies on Google and Bing to source answers to user questions on recent news. However, this could change, as Meta’s web crawler has been spotted gathering data over the past few months. This dedicated crawler, along with an internal team working to compile a search database, may allow Meta’s AI to offer real-time, AI-generated summaries in response to user queries.

Incorporating AI-Generated News Summaries: The planned search engine would allow users to receive up-to-date, conversational summaries on recent events within the Meta AI bot, helping it compete with offerings from Google and Microsoft.

Building Location-Based Data: Meta’s search engine team has also been developing a location data database, which some speculate could eventually compete with mapping tools like Google Maps.

A Growing Trend: AI Search Engines

Meta isn’t alone in developing AI-powered search technology. OpenAI recently introduced a prototype for its own search tool, SearchGPT, which is designed to enhance ChatGPT’s ability to answer real-time queries. Meanwhile, Apple has also taken steps toward its own AI-based search tool, particularly in the App Store, to further its independence from Google. This movement among tech giants underscores the increasing importance of proprietary AI in search.

Meta’s Renewed Focus on News Content

In a recent move signaling a controlled reintroduction of news content, Meta announced a multi-year partnership with Reuters, allowing its AI chatbot to draw from Reuters articles to enhance response accuracy. This represents a shift from Meta’s previous stance of downplaying news and political content across its platforms. Following recent controversies, Meta had deprioritized news in its feeds, but the new Reuters partnership suggests the company is open to revisiting news in a more curated format, targeting users actively seeking it.

Legal Challenges Facing AI Search Engines

While the race to develop AI-powered search capabilities heats up, it also raises legal concerns. Perplexity’s AI search engine, for instance, is facing lawsuits from major publishers like News Corp and legal pressures from The New York Times due to its use of proprietary news content in its summaries. Meta’s Reuters partnership could help it avoid similar issues by ensuring it has legal access to licensed news content.

Looking Ahead

Meta’s push to develop an independent AI search engine marks a strategic shift that could impact its dependence on existing tech giants and expand the value of its social platforms. If successful, Meta’s AI search engine could introduce a streamlined, AI-focused user experience for current events and location-based searches. However, the landscape for AI-powered search remains complex, with potential challenges tied to data use, partnerships, and legal issues. It will be crucial to monitor how Meta navigates these challenges as it advances its AI search capabilities.