For the nearly 79,000 employees at Meta, if you find it difficult to reach Mark Zuckerberg, there’s no need to be concerned. The founder and CEO of Facebook and Instagram is reportedly developing an artificial intelligence (AI) version of himself that will be able to respond to employee inquiries.

This AI representation of Zuckerberg is being designed to mimic his speech patterns, tone, and even his public statements and perspectives on the company’s direction. The Financial Times has indicated that the goal of this initiative is to foster a stronger connection between employees and one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures.

Zuckerberg has previously explored digital representations of himself. In 2022, he introduced an avatar for the metaverse, which faced criticism for its graphics, prompting him to release an improved version. Nevertheless, Meta has since revised its ambitions for the metaverse, focusing on the creation of AI-driven 3D characters that can interact with users in everyday conversations, including a character modeled after Zuckerberg.

The 41-year-old CEO, whose net worth exceeds $220 billion (£164 billion), is reportedly involved in training this animated AI. A source close to the project informed the Financial Times that the character will be developed using images and audio of Zuckerberg. Meta sees potential for this concept to be extended to influencers and creators, who are grappling with the concept of digital avatars in the evolving digital economy.

Synthesia, a UK-based startup valued at $4 billion that specializes in realistic video avatars, remarked that having a senior executive leverage AI for enhanced internal engagement is no longer a futuristic idea. A spokesperson stated, “When realistic AI video and voice are incorporated, there’s a significant increase in engagement and retention. Individuals perform better when information is conveyed by a familiar face or voice.”

Until the AI version of Zuckerberg is operational, he will continue to engage directly with Meta staff, as illustrated by a meeting in 2023 that occurred shortly after he announced the layoff of 10,000 employees. During this session, he faced concerns from anxious employees regarding job security and the future of remote work.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Zuckerberg might be assisted in preparing for such meetings by a personalized AI system known as a “CEO agent,” which is currently being developed at Meta to help him access internal company information more efficiently. Zuckerberg is advocating for greater internal AI utilization at Meta, believing it will reduce costs and enhance productivity.

By integrating AI into its operations, Meta aims to streamline its organizational structure and improve efficiency, which Zuckerberg has emphasized as essential for achieving more productivity. “We’re elevating individual contributors and flattening teams,” he stated in January.

These initiatives are part of a broader strategy by Meta to invest in AI, ensuring competitiveness with other technology companies that are also investing heavily in the field. Zuckerberg is overseeing a multi-billion dollar investment in AI aimed at developing “superintelligence,” which refers to systems capable of outperforming humans in any cognitive task.

Recently, the company launched Muse Spark, an advanced AI model that can analyze photos of meals to estimate calorie content and plan family vacations by simultaneously generating itineraries and searching for child-friendly activities. While praised for its language and visual comprehension, the model is still lacking in coding and abstract reasoning capabilities.

Last month, Meta faced legal challenges when a jury in New Mexico ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms and contributing to various harms, including child sexual exploitation. A California court found that Meta intentionally designed Instagram to be addictive, resulting in harm to a young user.

On Monday, Keir Starmer remarked that social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok must take measures to prevent young users from spending excessive time scrolling through endless videos. Similar to other nations, the UK is considering restrictions on children’s access to social media and is testing various measures such as bans, curfews, and app usage limits.