Meta is working on an AI-powered search engine to decrease its dependence on Google and Microsoft, according to a report from The Information. The search engine would reportedly provide AI-generated search summaries of current events within the Meta AI chatbot.
The Meta AI bot built into Instagram and Facebook currently uses Google — whose parent company, Alphabet, will report quarterly earnings tomorrow — and Microsoft Bing to answer questions about recent news and events.
That could eventually change, as Meta’s web crawler was spotted roving the web months ago. The Information’s source indicates a team has been working for about eight months to build a database of information for its chatbot. Meta has worked on building up location data that could compete with Google Maps, and last month, Bloomberg reported that Apple’s work on search tools in the App Store showed how it “has what it needs” for its own AI-powered Google Search replacement.
Last week, Meta also announced that it struck a multi-year deal with Reuters, allowing its chatbot to use the outlet’s news articles in answers. The Verge reached out to Meta with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.