Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, is accelerating its focus on artificial intelligence with plans to empower hundreds of millions of small businesses through advanced AI tools. According to Clara Shih, Meta’s head of Business AI, the company is harnessing generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to create agentic agents capable of taking on various tasks to benefit both consumers and businesses.
Meta’s latest AI advancements are fueled by its open-source approach, which has led to the widespread distribution of its Llama LLMs, which have been downloaded over 800 million times. These artificial intelligence models, set to be further enhanced by the upcoming Llama 4, are designed to evolve rapidly, enabling agentic agents to handle more complex tasks, including web surfing and advanced reasoning. The goal is to bring these cutting-edge technologies to businesses, especially small businesses, to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency.
In an interview with CNBC, Shih explains that many small businesses lack the resources to hire large artificial intelligence teams, so Meta is creating business AI tools tailored to their needs. The deployment of agentic agents will help even the smallest businesses automate tasks and better connect with customers. Shih believes that the future will see every business, from startups to large corporations, adopting AI-driven agents to represent them, similar to how businesses today rely on websites and email addresses.
Meta’s AI capabilities are already being used by over 700 million consumers, and the company is now focusing on delivering the same technology to the 200 million small businesses worldwide that use Meta platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. These businesses currently use these platforms to acquire customers and build relationships, but soon, agentic agents will help automate these processes further, acting in a company’s voice, answering customer inquiries, and even performing 24/7 concierge services.
Artificial intelligence will significantly impact the business world, particularly in how it will transform small business operations. AI agents will help automate repetitive tasks and enable businesses to engage with their customers more efficiently and personally. As AI continues to evolve, companies will have the opportunity to interact more with their customer base, providing real-time solutions and better customer service without the traditional overhead costs.
On a broader scale, Shih predicts that AI will revolutionize every job function across all industries. Just as the internet, mobile technology, and social media transformed the workforce, AI will be the next major disruptor. Small business owners and individuals alike should embrace AI by learning, experimenting with new AI tools, and adapting to the changes. With AI’s accessibility, anyone can interact with and learn from the technology, simplifying complex subjects and making it easier to integrate into daily life.
