Facebook Messenger Now Analyzes Your Chats To Give You Recommendations (yahoo.com)

Facebook's messaging platform, which reports 1 billion monthly active users, announced on Thursday that it is rolling out its experimental virtual assistant "M" to all Messenger users in the United States this week through a new feature called M Suggestions. A report adds: M Suggestions does exactly what its name suggests, using artificial intelligence to understand what is being said in any given Messenger chat to make recommendations that pop up during the course of a conversation. Some folks who already feel like Facebook is watching them when they see ads in their News Feed for bridal gowns after getting engaged may be creeped out by the fact their messages are being analyzed. But Stan Chudnovsky, Facebook Messenger's Head of Product, contends their goal with M Suggestions is to offer a better user experience. To wit, M Suggestions does not currently generate any revenues for Messenger. "The history of the internet is all about removing friction," Chudnovsky told Yahoo Finance. "In this case, instead of you having to think about doing something, like sending a sticker, paying a friend for something or sharing your location, and having to press three taps, M does it for you."

Comments

not sure

[sirber]

if it's a good thing?

Re:not sure

[JaredOfEuropa]

It's Facebook, so no.

Re:not sure

[known_coward_69]

like if they advertise video games to me cause i was chatting about video games with someone? or drug test kits for my kids cause i was chatting about having my kids sneak video games to school and joked about them being like drug mules?

Re:not sure

[Penguinisto]

It probably isn't.

I wouldn't know though... I just "Request Desktop Site" if I have a PM on Facebook, and use the mobile Chrome app to read it like I do the rest of Facebook.

(no, seriously, fuck their apps. I got no use for 'em.)

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you an idiot? It's spyware, of course it isn't a good thing.

Re:not sure

[spire3661]

Here is how i explain why these Assistants are bad. They dont work for you, they work for the company that sold it to you. If I ask Amazon Alexa for some Shakespeare, she is going to try and sell me books from Amazon instead of reciting it (for free) from Project Gutenberg.

Re:not sure

[known_coward_69]

sounds like alexa is as grumpy as i am when people ask me directions on the street

"google maps, stupid"

Re:not sure

[jwhyche]

Don't know, Don't care. I will not allow facebook messager on my phone and I have disabled facebook.

Re: not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

No no no. Openstreetmap!

Re:not sure

[sabri]

I just "Request Desktop Site" if I have a PM on Facebook, and use the mobile Chrome app to read it like I do the rest of Facebook.

My kingdom for modpoints. This works on iPhone as well. I just deleted that stupid messenger app from my phone.

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a heavy facebook user, but I use the "encrypted messager"
plugin provided by them, so I don't have to worry about my privacy.

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

You don't worry about an "encrypted messenger" from FB with a plugin provided by FB.

Gullible you are... - Yoda

Re:not sure

[Archangel Michael]

This is Facebook, so no. BUT we can have some fun with this.

Hook up Google Assistant, Siri and Facebook M in a "chat" group and have them all "Chatting" to each other. Seriously this would be fun(ny)

Re: not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

and don't forget Clippy, he can really get the conversation going.

Re:not sure

[viperidaenz]

No, the drug test suggestion for your kids goes to Social Services.

Re:not sure

[SirSlud]

I'm pretty sure advertising in the middle of conversations would drive a massive chunk of users away. I really doubt they'd do that. Sounds like they just want to offer in-line prompts like "share location" or "accept invitation" type stuff in the conversations.

Obviously, anything sufficiently intrusive defeats the purpose of using a messaging app.

Re:not sure

[SirSlud]

if I ask google for music, it just plays the music from google music (granted you need to have a subscription) .. it doesn't try and sell you anything. And when I ask it questions, it mostly goes to wikipedia. Hasn't tried upselling anything (yet)

Re: not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a BoB fan, myself...

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes. Even worse, when I ask for Shakespeare I get roofing tiles and medieval weapons. The speech recognition is so bad I have nothing at all to worry about on the response side since I never ever get what I asked for. The first time I ever tried it Siri thought I said the F word. Because it's fucked up, basically. No worky.

Re:not sure

[jbmartin6]

Exactly, it isn't advertising. It's making suggestions on things you can do with the app. For example, my sister messaged me "meet Friday at 8 PM" and Messenger added a chat bubble underneath offering to set a reminder. I didn't know the thing could set reminders. It's a means to get people using more of the features, and more usage presumably in the end equals more advertising revenue.

Re:not sure

[vux984]

if I ask google for music, it just plays the music from google music (granted you need to have a subscription)

So your argument is that it doesn't upsell you for a service you are paying a google a monthly subscription for?

Got it... so if you already use Bing search and bing maps, and Edge, and Office 365 and Azure and Windows Defender, and Windows 10 Pro, then Cortana doesn't try upselling or converting you to MS services? Sweet.

wtf

Re:not sure

[thegarbz]

it doesn't try and sell you anything.

Because you already bought and paid for it.

Re:not sure

[Baloroth]

I'm pretty sure advertising in the middle of conversations would drive a massive chunk of users away. I really doubt they'd do that.

Of course, collecting and selling the information gained from those conversations to advertisers, that I'm pretty sure they would (and do) do.

Re:not sure

[ShanghaiBill]

Of course, collecting and selling the information gained from those conversations to advertisers, that I'm pretty sure they would (and do) do.

There is no evidence whatsoever that they have done this. They have stated unequivocally that they do not sell your data and never will.

Selling data to advertisers would be stupid, and expose them to consumer backlash and lawsuits. It would make no sense. They make a ton of money by using that data to target ads, so why would they sell it to someone else who could undercut their business? If you were in the milk business, would you sell your cows?

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

This is Facebook, so no. BUT we can have some fun with this.

Hook up Google Assistant, Siri and Facebook M in a "chat" group and have them all "Chatting" to each other. Seriously this would be fun(ny)

Are we so quick to forget Eliza?

"Is it because of can have some fun with this that you say Assistant, Siri and Facebook M in a chat group?"

Re:not sure

[rtb61]

What is interesting it the foolish choice of langauge, they are making a recommendation 'anything that serves to recommend a person or thing, or induce acceptance or favour.', http://www.dictionary.com/brow.... They are recommending a product or service based upon their reputation and no longer broadcaster of advertisements. They are taking on legal liability for the quality of that product or service, as Facebook has now publicly stated it is a recommendation. So Facebook, you recommended a product, I bought i based upon that recommendation and it turned out to be shit, so you will be hearing from my lawyer.

It even brings to mind that whole thing about targeted advertisements, they are targeting you with the promotion of a specific product, basically presenting it qualities as promoted as being real and truth and targeted at you specifically. So they have analysed the product, analysed you and matched that product to you, to get you to buy it, so what happens when it turns out to be shite, how are they not liable for that targeted manipulation and false claims presented with regard to that product. Keep in mind it was specifically targeted at you, not a random ad, but a targeted, as it turned out scam, that targeting makes them liable.

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

you need to have a subscription ... it doesn't try and sell you anything

Way to apply your logic skills there.

Re:not sure

[Anonymous Coward]

Try to query the Alexa service for why it doesn't cite Project Gutenberg sources?

Keyword

[Anonymous Coward]

"Suggestions does not currently generate any revenues "

Key word: currently.

Some of my group chats...

[metalheadsunite]

Oh man. If that thing starts reading the group chats I'm a part of, I can't wait to see what the recommendations will be. "You should attend some sensitivity training." "You should grow up a little and move out of your mom's basement and stop posting memes." "Having friends like that may land you in jail."

That's alright.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll continue to not use Facebook nor Messenger apps.

Re:That's alright.

[Anonymous Coward]

facebook just isn't making it any easier, now is it? dumb retards.

Its not a good thing.

[Zombie Ryushu]

No, its not, it verifies what I was saying before: Nothing on Facebook is private, use OTR with Pidgin if you must use FaceBook for Chat with someone, or use some other means of chat.

Re:Its not a good thing.

[bluefoxlucid]

If you needed this for verification of Facebook chat not being private, you should probably get a refund for the two defective braincells rattling around in your head. You can see your entire chat history from any device; how do you think that works?

Fun

[Anonymous Coward]

Aaaaand now I'm not using messenger anymore.

What kind of ads

[Anonymous Coward]

What kind of ads will I see the next time I'm chatting about how fucked up my crunchy neighbors are because their goat ran in through their back door, stole the mom's dildo and ran back outside, and then swallowed it whole? And, how their kids were screaming bloody murder the entire time? What key words will be filtered from that to produce an ad that I'd want to see?

Re: What kind of ads

[Anonymous Coward]

Hello, I'm "M". Would you like to visit http://goatse.cx?

Here's a suggestion

[fahrbot-bot]

... their goal with M Suggestions is to offer a better user experience.

Stop using Facebook.

Some folks who already feel like Facebook is watching them when they see ads in their News Feed for bridal gowns after getting engaged may be creeped out by the fact their messages are being analyzed.

Now M Suggestions can spy on -- I mean "watch" -- I mean "analyze" -- your messages in real-time. Ya, *much* less creepy. /sarcasm

Informed Consent

[Anonymous Coward]

If this "better user experience" is so much better, then you'll have no problem getting the user's informed consent to analyze their chat.

Does Facebook really want to be That Guy?

Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

M pays my friends for me? Sign me up!

No

[Anonymous Coward]

Fuck Facebook, I can do my own thinking thank you very much.

Re:No

[knorthern knight]

In Soviet Amerika, facebook fucks you.

Making Mass Surveillance look "Cool" since 2006

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sooo cool when people spy on everything I type.

In fact I'm the coolest!

no fb

[Anonymous Coward]

I have not had fb for a long time, then signed up since my wife wanted to tag me in it. I hated it every min after I reused it. Now its been deleted (i hope) and only need to get rid of the wife;-)

I don't want to buy anything

[OrangeTide]

I really don't want to buy any more stuff. I just want to go online an catch up on what some of my old friends and classmates are up to.

BS

[qQ7eBMsfM5gs]

Stan Chudnovsky, Facebook Messenger's Head of Product, contends their goal with M Suggestions is to offer a better user experience. To wit, M Suggestions does not currently generate any revenues for Messenger.

BS
Who here is still believe into good intentions of the Internet monopolies?
We all know know what that means when something is free for users

Re:BS

[SirSlud]

FB Messenger is hardly a monopoly.

Mustard (mustard.cool)

[Anonymous Coward]

Big Data and surveillance is not good. http://mustard.cool

"M does it for you."

[Anonymous Coward]

>To wit, M Suggestions does not currently generate any revenues for Messenger.
    So what, is that supposed to make us more accepting of these suggestions?

>"The history of the internet is all about removing friction," Chudnovsky told Yahoo Finance.
    No it's been about information. Mainly authoring, dispersing, and storing information. The fact that someone finally realized they could 'analyze' this info in real time and send back 'suggestions' is a cheap costume at what we used to call an eavesdropper. Or once they started chatting, is a third wheel.

Can you imagine the reality of, while talking to someone about something, another person suddenly appeared & tried to sell you something tied to your story? Isn't that really, really, weird?!?

>"In this case, instead of you having to think about doing something, like sending a sticker, paying a friend for something or sharing your location, and having to press three taps, M does it for you."
    Have we not learned the penalties of having things done for us? At least don't automate groups of stuff at a time! Even yesterday /. has an article about the horrible results of 'convenient automation'.
https://news.slashdot.org/story/17/04/05/2248230/amazon-will-refund-millions-of-unauthorized-in-app-purchases-made-by-kids

Please, let us not be this stupid as to accept their BS reasoning.

_

Clippy 34.0

[Tablizer]

Clippy just won't die. When you try to kill a zombie, you just make it zombier.

Clippy: "Mr. President, it looks like you are trying to blame another politician for your snafu. Would you like some help? I can offer you Conspiracy Generator 3.0 at a discount today..."

Re:Clippy 34.0

[thegarbz]

Clippy just won't die

Are you kidding? If anything every company is pushing their own version of Clippy now.

Re:Clippy 34.0

[Tablizer]

I meant Clippy & clones, not necessarily MS-branded Clippy. It's kind of like Jacuzzi and Kleenex where the brand becomes a generic word, as in "You Clippified your interface". Maybe Clippy is not quite there yet, though.

Funny what we see and don't see as a privacy issue

[Anonymous Coward]

I have read lot's of stuff on what Microsoft collects in telemetry for Windows and many think its too much. Yet having a computer monitor a Facebook message conversation is not creepy? Sorry its a bit to invasive for either of them to use. I get enough Facebook crap just through my browser. Don't need to install something from Facebook which pretty much doesn't give a crap about my privacy for sure.

Not surprised

[viperidaenz]

The summary is written like they weren't already analyzing all your messenger conversations.
They would have been doing it since they rolled out Facebook Messenger.

Suggestion from "M"

[knorthern knight]

> I'm a heavy facebook user,

Hi; I'm "M". Here's a list of gyms and Weight Watchers groups in your area.

Re:Suggestion from "M"

[n329619]

Friend: Which restaurant should we go for?
Me: I want Pork.
M: Here's a list of recommended po*n websites.
Friend: LOL
Me: WTF!?!?

Re:Suggestion from "M"

[Anonymous Coward]

but.. do they have good wifi?

option to turn off?

[drafalski]

I can guarantee up front I have no interest in "sending a sticker, paying a friend for something or sharing [my] location" via Facebook. The prompts would just be additional annoyance.

Creeped out?

[Altrag]

I don't get why this is creepy. They already have your data (you're posting it on their site after all!) Its no secret that analyzing data is something that these "information" companies can and pretty much always do.

I could see being creeped out in 2010 when this kind of shit was new but by this point it should be considered the default position. You should almost be more creeped out if they're NOT doing this kind of shit since it kind of suggests they're probably doing something even more nefarious (not that they couldn't do both of course..)

Now pissed off that they're going to start injecting ads into your conversations? That's something I can get behind. Or at least I could if I actually used FB.

Re:Creeped out?

[Nyder]

I don't get why this is creepy. They already have your data (you're posting it on their site after all!) Its no secret that analyzing data is something that these "information" companies can and pretty much always do.

I could see being creeped out in 2010 when this kind of shit was new but by this point it should be considered the default position. You should almost be more creeped out if they're NOT doing this kind of shit since it kind of suggests they're probably doing something even more nefarious (not that they couldn't do both of course..)

Now pissed off that they're going to start injecting ads into your conversations? That's something I can get behind. Or at least I could if I actually used FB.

It's creepy because people have an expectation of privacy. Like when you call someone on the phone, you expect it to be between you and that person. You know the computer takes care of everything, so no reason why anyone should be listening or recording it. These same people think they should be getting the same sort of privacy with messenger apps.

Of course, any one paying attention to the last decade knows that all our shit is being recorded, for some reason or the other. No matter what you wanted, we are in a surveillance society, the question is, do we make laws to protect us from ourselves, or do we just carry on how we are doing it?

Re:Creeped out?

[Altrag]

It takes a special kind of person to think that stuff posted on Facebook isn't visible to Facebook. I mean I know there's lots of dumb people out there (and they all voted apparently, just to throw in an offtopic Trump dig) but I'm not sure I believe enough people to be so dumb that a wide consensus would assume that Facebook is somehow magical and doesn't store the data on its site.

And its not exactly a great step up from that to have read the news basically any time in the past half decade and known that pretty much everything you post anywhere is being read and used for advertisements (and government databases, but those they try to hide as best they can..)

been there, done that

[Anonymous Coward]

G-male: "Based on my active listening and picking up on your keywords, I realize that daffodils are your favorite flowers, you have a strained relationship with your mother, and blue is your favorite color. And based on your keywords, I have determined you're having an affair with Sam."

another reason

[Presto Vivace]

to stay away from Facebook

Get used to it

[Anonymous Coward]

This is our future. Either you get used to it or stop using all these 'free' services.

Your choice, dont blame them.

private and encrypted ?

[Anonymous Coward]

So people (not me, don't use spybook) that are engaged in a private and 'encrypted' chats are going to have their conversation broken into with comments about what is said. For a better user exerience ? I would be really spooked and never use the service again.

troll you're friends

[Revek]

Like telling them where and how much depends are on a daily basis. Ask them how their genital warts are every day for a week. Pretty soon their ads will start to look like a hypochondriacs dream. Sorry to hear that you have the clap. Get everyone in on it.

Who's in charge of your mind?

[Neuronwelder]

You! Have the choice of viewing the offered item or not.

'M'

[Rick Schumann]

I just love Judi Dench, she's such an awesome actor. I was really sad to see her leave the James Bond movies. :-(

Actually three things came to mind here:
* Judi Dench
* Andrew Scott (batshit-insane Moriarty in the British Sherlock series)
* Natalie Dormer (totally hot female version of Moriarty in the U.S. Elementary series)

So far as Facebook goes.. creepy-as-hell. Do not want.
So glad I don't use Facebook.

"Now" analyzes?

[TheOuterLinux]

Thats cute...

Opt-in?

[XSportSeeker]

Simple question, is this an optional feature or is it being forced on users?
If it's optional, no problems... anyone who's creeped by it can just ignore.
If it's either opt-out or forced, then the strategy is obvious: to profit from user conversations and sell ads.