You probably don't remember, but almost two years ago, Facebook introduced a digital assistant for its Messenger app called M.
Now the feature is finally launching for all iOS and Android users in the US. But the version of M launching today is not the same M we heard about in August 2015. Back then, M was powered by artificial intelligence and actual people. Now, Facebook has taken its human "M trainers" out of the mix.
The new version of M is completely automated, and will appear in your chats to make you aware of Messenger features you might not have known about.
"To experience M, simply chat with a friend or a group as you normally would," Facebook Messenger Product Managers Laurent Landowski and Kemal El Moujahid explained in a blog post. As you chat, "M may make a suggestion in a conversation."
If you say "thank you" or "goodbye," for instance, M may suggest some stickers you can send your friend. It also recognizes when you're talking about money and may give you the option to send or request payment via Messenger.
If you're telling a friend where you are, M may suggest the option to share your location. Or, if you're talking about going somewhere, M may ask you if you want to book an Uber or Lyft.
Meanwhile, if you're having a hard time reaching a consensus in a group conversation, M may suggest that you create a poll so everyone can vote. For a look at what M can do, check out the video below.
Landowski and Moujahid said M will get better at what it does over time. If you're not into its suggestions, you can simply ignore or dismiss them. You can also mute M entirely in settings.