Meta’s New AI Agent Lets Any Business Offer 24/7 Customer Service in Minutes

Meta is rolling out a new tool called the Meta Business Agent, designed to help companies of all sizes handle customer interactions around the clock without needing a huge support team. The AI-powered agent can be set up in just a few minutes or integrated into existing systems, allowing businesses to dramatically increase their response capacity.

More than one million businesses are already using the agent on WhatsApp and Messenger to reply to customers automatically. Since a billion people already connect with businesses daily across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, the agent can deliver personalized responses from the very first message.

The agent can answer business-specific questions, recommend products from a catalog, book appointments, qualify leads, and even close sales. Business owners can decide when a human team member should step in. It also works in local languages and can match a company’s tone.

Starting this week, businesses can activate the agent on Instagram for free. Meta plans to introduce paid subscription options in the coming months, with pricing for every size of business.

Beyond customer service, the agent can provide a morning briefing summarizing overnight chats and offer insights on conversations. Meta is testing this feature with select businesses on WhatsApp Business, Instagram Pro, Messenger, and Meta Business Suite, with plans to expand into tasks like market research and calendar management.

Meta also launched the Meta Business Agent Platform, which lets larger companies build and customize their own agents. It connects with hundreds of systems like Shopify, Zendesk, and Shopee, giving the agent the ability to take actions on behalf of the business. Enterprise-grade controls and measurement tools are built in.

Finally, Meta is making it easier for people to discover businesses using the agent on WhatsApp. Soon, users can find businesses by typing a name in the search bar or sharing a contact card in chats. The goal is to ensure every customer gets a fast, helpful response.