Facebook introduced its virtual assistant M - rival Siri and Cortana

Facebook company introduced its own version of a virtual assistant called M - the code name of the head of James Bond. To date, M operates in a closed test mode within the company Facebook. Nevertheless, the publication Wired has managed to get some information about his work.

Interestingly, M will work within the Facebook Messenger. Users will be able to ask him various questions and give instructions to be implemented without delay. It is about the reservation of tables, searching for gifts and so on. Facebook representatives say that in terms of M can call the cable company to find out the date of the end of the subscription, and to renew or to unsubscribe from the same HBO, if necessary, for example.

To entrust the task of M, the user simply writes the service through Messenger - a dedicated button provided for this purpose. You can write the usual spoken language. The system detects the request and asks a few questions of clarification, if necessary. As a result, the system receives a clear task and executes it. Facebook vice president of products, David Marcus noted that the system as much as possible try to humanize: if M is organize a dinner party, then, for example, in the end everyone can get an unexpected surprise in the form of copyright cupcakes.

Unlike Siri or Cortana, from M does not have sex, as well as voice. The system works in such a way that the user can not determine - before him a man or machine. Especially for Training M on Facebook scored a team of trainers. Their task is to make the M most convenient and useful in the course of use.

Users will benefit from M service is completely free. The Company has not presented a way to monetize, but it is expected that in a short time, Facebook will begin cooperation with business and companies. Perhaps, Facebook will receive a percentage of the order from the user, as does the popular US service Magic.

The only negative Facebook M - the service will expand the geography rather slowly. According to Marcus, they really taught M quickly reserve a table, look for gifts and call Uber car. But this must be only a small percentage of the $ 700 million Messenger users. The challenge now command M is to increase the features and capabilities to gradually grow and expand into new territory.

(via)