Published on: March 20, 2025 / update from: March 20, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Meta Ai in Germany is here! WhatsApp, Instagram & Facebook get AI-with important differences in the US version-Image: Xpert.digital
Meta AI: The AI assistant finally starts in Germany
Artificial intelligence of Meta: German premiere of the AI assistant
After a long waiting time, Meta is now officially introducing his AI functions in Germany and over 60 other countries. The artificial intelligence named Meta AI is integrated into the company's popular apps and should be available as a digital assistant. The start takes place almost a year after the US introduction and initially brings with it a limited range of functions. European data protection concerns delayed the launch considerably, but after intensive cooperation with regulatory authorities, Meta AI can finally be used in Germany.
Meta AI has been available in Germany since March 20, 2025. The AI assistant was integrated into the platforms WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger and offers users support for information searches and other tasks. Previously, Meta Ai was not available in Germany due to data protection concerns and regulatory challenges.
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Availability and first steps
Meta officially announced the start of its AI functions in Germany and numerous other countries after the first features were discovered in Instagram a few days ago. The introduction is initially carried out in WhatsApp, Instagram and the Facebook services including Messenger. However, the rollout will take place in waves, so that not all users are given access at the same time.
The integration of META AI into the European market comes with a significant delay - the service has been available in the United States since March 2023. The delay is mainly attributed to complex regulatory framework in Europe, as Meta emphasizes in its communication. According to its own statements, the company worked intensively with various European regulatory authorities in order to finally be able to introduce the AI functions.
Access to Meta Ai
In all supported apps, access to the new AI takes place via a blue circular symbol-the meta logo. By tapping this symbol, users can chat directly with the AI assistant. The availability of the service is guaranteed in six European languages, including German.
In WhatsApp group chats there is also the possibility to activate the assistant by entering “@metaai” followed by a question or instruction. This function should also follow for Messenger and Instagram Direct messaging shortly.
Functional scope of Meta AI in Germany
As a personal chat assistant, Meta AI is designed to support users in various tasks. Artificial intelligence can answer questions, help with ideas and put together thematically suitable content.
Research and information search
Since Meta AI has access to the Internet, the assistant can compile and prepare current information. For example, users can ask about the best flea markets in a certain city, whereupon the AI puts a list of recommendations. This ability makes META AI a practical research tool directly within the usual messaging apps.
Word processing and creative support
The assistant offers help in writing and editing texts as well as in creating understandable instructions. These functions can be particularly useful if users need creative support or want to improve texts without having to change the app.
Discover and curate content
A particularly interesting function on Instagram is the possibility of discovering curated content from friends and followers on certain topics. For example, Meta Ai can put together holiday photos of contacts to help with travel planning - without users having to search for it manually.
Group chat integration
In group chats, Meta Ai can serve as a common resource. By mentioning using “@metaai”, all participants of the chat can benefit from the answers and information, which facilitates collaborative planning and discussions.
Differences to the US version
The European version of META AI starts with significantly fewer functions than the long-term US variant. These restrictions reflect the careful approach of meta in the European market.
Missing functions
In contrast to the USA, the following functions are initially missing in Germany:
- Image generation and image processing: European users cannot use META AI to create or edit images.
- Voice control: The language interaction available in the USA, especially through Ray Ban smartglasses, has not yet been implemented in Europe.
- Personalization functions: Features such as the personalization of the AI assistant available in the USA are initially missing.
- Memory function: The memorial function already available in the USA has not yet been activated in Europe.
Meta has announced that it should gradually expand the range of functions in order to attract the US offer in the long term, but without naming a specific schedule.
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Backgrounds to the delayed introduction
The considerable delay in the introduction of META AI in Europe has several regulatory causes that are closely linked to the European data protection framework.
Data protection concerns and regulatory hurdles
In the summer of 2024, Meta had postponed the start of Meta AI in Europe after the Irish data protection authority had expressed concerns regarding the use of user posts on training the AI. Meta had originally planned to use public contributions on Facebook and Instagram for the training of his AI models, which met with resistance from data protection officers.
One of the main criticism was that users only had the opportunity to object (opt-out) instead of explicitly asked to be asked for their consent (opt-in). After negotiations with regulatory authorities, Meta has now promised that his AI model will not be trained with first-party data by EU users.
Meta itself was disappointed with the regulatory hurdles and emphasized that it was more transparent approaching than other companies that had used European user data to train their AI systems.
Complex regulatory landscape
The delay is attributed from META to “continued complex regulatory systems in Europe”. In addition to the GDPR, tech companies in Europe must also take other regulations such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the recently come into force, which makes it difficult to introduce new technologies.
Apple had expressed similar concerns and also delayed the introduction of his AI functions in Europe, which indicates that this is an industry-wide problem.
Technical basis and future prospects
Meta AI is based on the company's own LLAMA language model, which forms the technical basis for the AI functions. As a large Language Model (LLM) it was developed to understand and generate natural language.
Further development and outlook
Meta has announced that the regulatory authorities continue to work in order to be able to offer all AI functions in Europe in the long term. The current start is called the “first step”, whereby the company plans to gradually expand the range of functions.
The worldwide user base of Meta AI already comprises over 700 million people per month, which underlines the potential for spreading in Europe. With integration into the widespread apps of the group, Meta Ai could quickly become one of the most used AI assistants in Germany.
Meaning for the market
The start of META AI in Germany and other European countries marks an important milestone in the distribution of AI functions in mainstream applications. Despite the initial restrictions compared to the US version, integration offers practical advantages for millions of users.
The delayed introduction underlines the challenges that large technology companies have to deal with in the introduction of AI services in Europe. Data protection and regulatory compliance remain central topics that influence the rollout of new technologies.
For users in Germany, the start of META AI means low-threshold access to AI functions directly in the daily communication apps. The further development and expansion of the functions will show to what extent Meta can master the balance between innovation and compliance with European regulations.
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