Meta has introduced two artificial intelligence-powered applications as it expands its experiments with standalone products: Waddle World, a virtual pet game aimed at children, and Style Sketch, an AI-powered tool that helps users create outfits from clothes they already own.
The apps, launched this week, reflect Meta’s growing use of its own AI models to speed up product development and test new services beyond its core social media platforms.
However, their features also raise questions about how personal information is collected and how AI-powered experiences are designed for younger users.
Waddle World Brings AI to Virtual Pet Care
Waddle World offers a digital pet-raising experience inspired by classic Tamagotchi games. Users can hatch a virtual companion, interact with it, and share information that the pet can remember and use to generate content tailored to their interests.
Meta describes the app as a relaxed, 16-bit pet-care game without competitive scores or daily streaks that users must maintain.
Despite its playful design, the app’s data practices may warrant attention from users and parents. Its iOS listing identifies information categories that include location, contact details, and user IDs.
According to social media analyst Matt Navarra, Waddle World is currently available only in the Philippines.
The launch comes amid broader concerns about AI tools and their interactions with younger audiences. The app’s ability to remember information and personalise responses makes it important for families to understand what data is collected and how the experience is managed.
Style Sketch Creates Outfits From Existing Clothes
Meta’s second app, Style Sketch, focuses on personal styling. It uses AI to suggest outfit combinations based on items users already own, potentially helping them plan what to wear without buying new clothes.
Users can manually add clothing items to a digital wardrobe. The app also integrates with Instagram, allowing it to extract clothing from images users have shared on the platform.
The feature could make building a virtual wardrobe more convenient, but it also means users should consider what information they choose to share across services.
Navarra reported that Style Sketch is available in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
Meta Expands AI-Assisted App Development
The two launches form part of Meta’s broader effort to use AI to develop and release new products more quickly.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed the strategy during the company’s second-quarter earnings call in July, saying AI was helping teams accelerate product development and giving them opportunities to build more experimental services.
He also pointed to previous standalone launches, including Instagram Instants, Forum and Seller, as examples of the company exploring products beyond its main apps.
Meta plans to use its recommendation systems to connect new applications with audiences likely to find them relevant, following an approach it has used with Threads.
Privacy and Safety Questions Remain
While Waddle World and Style Sketch offer different uses for AI, both rely on information about their users to deliver personalised experiences.
For Waddle World, the central concern is how a child-focused app handles personal information and AI-generated interactions. For Style Sketch, the integration with Instagram raises questions about how clothing information extracted from uploaded images is processed and managed.
The available information does not establish that either app has misused personal data. However, their launches highlight the importance of clear data practices, particularly when AI products are designed around personalisation.
Meta’s latest releases show how the company is using AI to explore new consumer applications. Whether these products gain wider adoption will depend on their usefulness, user trust, and the company’s ability to address privacy and safety concerns as it expands its AI-powered offerings.
Source: Social Media News
