Facebook Inc (FB) is Testing an AI-Based Digital Assistant Called “M”

Facebook Digital Assitant M Logo

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) is testing a personal digital assistant called M, which is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). M will be integrated in the social network giant’s Messenger mobile application.

Obviously, Facebook does not want to fall behind its fellow tech giants when it comes to providing users with AI-based services. The social network giant’s M will compete will Siri, Google Now, and Cortana—the personal digital assistants of Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), respectively.

M can complete tasks on user’s behalf

David Marcus, vice president of messaging products at Facebook said M “can complete tasks on your behalf” such as purchasing items, booking restaurants, making appointments and travel arrangements and others.

“This is early in the journey to build M into an at-scale service. But it’s an exciting step towards enabling people on Messenger to get things done across a variety of things, so they can get more time to focus on what’s important in their lives,” wrote Marcus in a post on Facebook.

According to Facebook spokesman Ari Entin, a few hundred people in the San Francisco will be testing M.

Facebook adds Donate Now button

Yesterday, Facebook also announced the addition the Donate Now button on advertisements and pages. The social network giant first introduced the Donate option with a several partners including Red Cross UNICEF, and American Cancer Society.

The Donate Now button is available to almost all non-profit organization. Users who find an advertisement from a non-profitable organization asking for a donation for a good cause, they click on the Donate Now button a small message box will appear that reads “Make a donation to show your support” and “Not endorsed or affiliated with Facebook.”

Facebook will direct users to the main website of the organization if they choose to continue and make a donation using their credit card or other payment options.

Facebook is a great buy over the long-term

In a recent note to investors, analysts at Oppenheimer said now is the right time to buy Facebook shares. Over the past five days, social network giants stock price dropped more than 7% due to the volatility of the global financial markets, which was caused by investors’ concerns regarding China’s deepening economic slowdown.

According to the analysts, Facebook is a good investment over the long-term due to the prospects of its core business.  The stock price of Facebook closed $87.19 per share, up by more than 5% on Wednesday.