Zuckerberg unveils vision for AI-driven ads that could reshape the industry
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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has laid out a bold new vision for the future of advertising - one where artificial intelligence handles every step of the process.
In a recent interview with Stratechery’s Ben Thompson, Zuckerberg suggested that Meta’s AI capabilities are rapidly advancing to a point where businesses may no longer need creative teams, ad agencies, or marketing strategists to launch successful campaigns.
According to Zuckerberg, the goal is to allow businesses to simply state their objectives, connect their bank accounts, and let Meta’s AI do the rest. This includes generating product images and videos, writing promotional copy, targeting specific audiences, running the ads, and measuring performance. “I think that’s going to be huge… a redefinition of the category of advertising,” Zuckerberg said, as quoted by The Verge.
Meta’s strategy aims to fully automate advertising - transforming the industry as we know it. If an ad performs well, the AI will automatically scale and push it to a broader audience, encouraging purchases directly through Meta’s ecosystem.
The company has already begun implementing advanced AI tools to enhance ad performance. Its new recommendation model for Reels has reportedly boosted conversion rates by 5%, and more than 30% of Meta’s advertisers are now using AI tools to create campaign materials.
Zuckerberg also highlighted how improvements to Meta’s recommendation systems have led to greater user engagement: a 7% increase in time spent on Facebook, 6% more on Instagram, and a significant 35% rise on Threads over the past six months.
Beyond revolutionising ad creation, Meta plans to introduce advertising to its AI assistant, Meta AI, and is exploring a paid version of the service. The premium tier would offer enhanced computing power and faster response times, providing a more efficient experience for users.
While Meta AI remains free for now, Zuckerberg noted that monetisation isn’t the immediate focus. “I expect that we’re going to be largely focused on scaling and deepening engagement for at least the next year,” he said during an earnings call.
