Meta Pursues Generative AI Integration in Metaverse Amid Brazilian Regulatory Challenge

Meta is seeking to revolutionize its metaverse by integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) with virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality games. A recent job listing reveals that the company is offering a $347,000 annual salary for an expert to advance this AI-driven vision, despite facing a ban in Brazil on using local personal data to train its AI models.

The social media giant aims to explore and prototype new “consumer experiences” using generative AI, which would enable games to be “non-deterministic, personalized, and change every time you play them.” Meta sees this as an emerging field with the potential to create experiences previously unimaginable.

The new hire will initially work in Meta’s Reality Labs division, focused on building the metaverse, but will also collaborate with company leadership. The position offers a lucrative compensation package, including bonuses, equity, and benefits. The initial focus will be on Horizon, Meta’s suite of mixed-reality games, with the potential to expand to other platforms such as mobile and PC. A significant part of the role involves developing tools to expedite content creation across Meta’s platforms.

Meta has been heavily investing in its metaverse initiative, despite a $3.8 billion loss in the first quarter of this year. During an earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated that more of Reality Labs’ efforts would increasingly support AI initiatives.

However, Meta’s AI ambitions have encountered obstacles in Brazil. The National Data Protection Authority has banned Meta from using Brazilians’ personal data for AI model training. The watchdog ordered the immediate suspension of Meta’s new privacy policy, which involved utilizing photos, audio, videos, and posts for AI training. This move aims to prevent “serious and irreparable damage” to users, with noncompliance resulting in a $8,800 daily fine.

Meta expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that it would delay the benefits of AI for the Brazilian population. Brazil remains a significant market for Meta, with Facebook boasting 102 million active users in the country.