You can easily set up business AIs to respond instantly to customers, free your team from repetitive tasks, and help convert more leads, faster.
Meta recently launched a game-changer for small and medium enterprises: free AI-powered customer service bots on Instagram, Facebook, and coming soon to WhatsApp.
Meta’s VP of Business AI Clara Shih in a linkedIn post mentioned how this technology is disrupting for SMEs and evening the playing field.
What’s the deal?
Meta’s new AI is arriving to help businesses by answering customer queries 24/7 on social media. Imagine never having to worry about responding to queries on Facebook or Instagram again—this AI does it all, from chat to shopping assistance, all for free during Meta’s pilot period. Clara Shih calls this a “crazy cool moment,” with AI now accessible to customers and businesses alike. Thanks to Meta’s Llama technology (which has been downloaded over 800 million times across the globe), the AI is already up and running, answering in real-time on everything from sizing queries to shipping details.
For small businesses, whether a local café, an Etsy shop, or a small boutique, the technology is a game-changer. Meta is offering the kind of AI tools that big corporations have, but without the big tech teams. “Larger companies have IT employees working all day on AI,” Shih explains, “but small businesses don’t have to.” With 600 million daily chats on Meta’s apps, this AI can respond to returns, suggest products, and even schedule appointments. You can program it to your brand voice, or if it becomes too complicated, pass the issue off to a human. Now, it’s free, though pricing will come later.
Say goodbye to clunky chatbots
The Llama 4 of the next generation, which Shih previewed in a CNBC interview, will have even more advanced capabilities, including web searches, smoothing out your company’s voice, and poaching customers. “Soon, every business will have an AI sidekick,” she says. This AI is not merely answering “Where is my order?”—it’ll help with marketing, payments, and even planning a customer’s weekend getaway.
The use of AI in business is expanding, and it’s no longer customer service; it’s expansion. AI is expected to add $4.4 trillion to the global economy annually, with small businesses having a piece of the action if they jump on early, says a recent McKinsey report.
For Aussie SMEs, it’s huge
Australia’s 2.5 million SMEs are set to receive a huge lift. Meta’s AI enables small businesses to offer 24/7 customer service, i.e., customers can receive answers to basic or intricate questions any time of day or night. Consider a cafe responding to questions regarding its business hours at midnight, or an e-commerce website answering shipping questions on the spot.
Not only is this a great customer satisfaction strategy, but it also helps smaller businesses compete against large businesses who have the finances to provide around-the-clock service. Australian SMEs both appreciate time and money, and Meta’s AI can help set free precious hours by automating processes like replying to fundamental questions about return or shipping. It saves resources and boosts efficiency, allowing firms to redirect functions to other functions. Additionally, the AI provides valuable insights in the form of interpreting customer behavior, allowing firms to stay aware of trends as well as streamline their services. Meta’s effort to democratize AI gives small businesses the same powerful tools that were previously reserved for big brands. SMEs that use AI have achieved 30% higher customer satisfaction, according to a 2023 Salesforce survey. With Llama 4 on the horizon, Meta’s free AI tool can help businesses make a side hustle a profitable business. And with Mark Zuckerberg targeting a billion AI assistant users by 2025, there is no time better than now to get in on the action.
Meta AI can save time, improve customer service, and increase sales—while giving small businesses access to leading-edge technology that levels the playing field. With 3.9 billion users across Meta’s platforms, Aussie SMEs have a huge audience just waiting to be tapped.
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Imagine having a 24/7 AI customer service team, for free. Meta’s making it a reality. But what does it mean for your business? News, Meta Dynamic Business
