Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is developing an AI clone of himself to interact with employees and provide feedback, according to the Financial Times. The $1.6 trillion company is working on developing photorealistic, AI-powered 3D characters that users can interact with in real time, with a recent focus on prioritizing a Zuckerberg AI character, according to four people familiar with the matter.
The company is training the digital avatar using Zuckerberg’s image, voice, and mannerisms. The training also incorporates his tone, public statements, and his recent thinking on company strategies to ensure the avatar's accuracy. Meta intends for the technology to ensure employees "feel more connected to the founder through interactions with it," the Financial Times reported.
Expanding the digital persona
The success of this internal experiment could influence Meta's broader strategy for digital creators. If the project succeeds, Meta may allow creators to produce similar AI avatars of themselves to engage with their audiences. Meta previously showcased a live demonstration in 2024 of how an AI persona for a creator might function. The company has already begun rolling out features on Instagram that allow creators to use AI versions of themselves to interact with follower comments.
Meta's ecosystem already includes custom, AI-generated chatbots that users can create. However, the company began blocking teenagers from certain parts of this experience earlier this year. This push for AI comes amid a multibillion-dollar spending spree by Zuckerberg, who has promised to develop "personal superintelligence" to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Google. Meta also recently released Muse Spark, a small, closed, purpose-built model designed for use across its products, which contributed to a 7 percent rise in Meta's shares on Wednesday.
Zuckerberg is directly involved in the development of the avatar. According to the Financial Times, he is participating in the training process and spends five to 10 hours per week coding on Meta’s other AI projects. In addition to coding, Zuckerberg participates in technical reviews for the company's various AI initiatives. This hands-on approach follows his recent shift toward technical oversight of the company's machine learning infrastructure.
A separate project is also underway regarding the CEO's personal productivity. The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Zuckerberg is building an AI agent of himself, or a "CEO agent," to assist with completing personal tasks and retrieving information quickly. This personal agent is a distinct project from the work Meta is doing to create a corporate avatar of its CEO. While both utilize generative technology, the primary goal of the personal agent is task automation rather than employee engagement.
