Meta has announced that it is expanding Meta AI’s presence on Threads by rolling out chatbot access directly within the platform’s DMs, giving users a private way to interact with the assistant.
The company had previously tested Meta AI in Threads’ public posts in select markets, similar to how Grok functions on X, but this update marks the first time users can message the AI assistant one-on-one. The rollout began Monday and is being extended globally.
Meta said the DM integration allows users to share Threads posts, images, links, and videos directly with Meta AI, then ask follow-up questions to explore topics further. The feature mirrors AI assistant tools already available in DMs across Meta’s other apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The move reflects Meta’s broader push to keep users engaged within its own ecosystem rather than turning to external AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, positioning Threads as a place to seek information and recommendations without leaving the app.
Meta noted that public-feed testing of Meta AI continues in a limited number of markets, and the company is weighing user feedback before deciding on wider rollout. Users seeking fewer Meta AI replies in their feed can mute the account, mark posts as “Not interested,” or hide specific AI replies.
