Meta Launches Two AI Apps, Including One Aimed at Kids

Meta has launched two new artificial intelligence-powered apps this week, as the company ramps up its internal experiments and uses its own AI models to generate app code faster. The Meta AI apps are Waddle World, which is aimed at children, and Style Sketch, which builds outfits from the clothes users already own.

Waddle World Brings Tamagotchi-Style Play to Kids

Waddle World is described by Meta as a cozy, 16-bit pet care game with no streaks to protect and no scores to chase. Users hatch a virtual pet that remembers things they say and creates content based on their interests. The app is currently available only in the Philippines, according to social media analyst Matt Navarra. Its iOS listing shows it collects personal data, including location, contact information and user ID.

Style Sketch Turns Closets Into Outfits

Style Sketch generates outfit combinations from a user’s existing wardrobe. It integrates with Instagram and can extract clothing items from images users have shared there. People can also add items manually, and the app then suggests looks based on those pieces. Navarra said it is available only in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Both apps have drawn criticism. Observers have raised concerns about AI tools making potentially dangerous recommendations, and placing that technology inside a cute kids’ app has been flagged as a worry. Building a closet inventory may be useful, but critics also see it as data farming.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the company’s Q2 earnings call in July that AI is helping teams speed up product development. He expects it to become easier to ship new apps, then scale them using Meta’s recommendation systems, as it did with Threads.

Other Meta experiments include Pocket, Vibes and StoryKit, and a prediction markets app called Arena is reportedly in the works. Most of these experiments are unlikely to last, but a few may help keep people engaged.