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Meta’s Bold New Step: A Competitive Stand Against OpenAI’s ChatGPT

by News Editor
April 30, 2025

Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has introduced a standalone AI application, propelling it directly into competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the fierce AI race. This launch marks Meta’s strategic entry into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Key Insights

  • Meta launched its innovative app, known as Meta AI, featuring an AI chatbot and a ‘Discover’ channel to showcase user interactions with the assistant. Discover more about AI’s progress in Cyprus with our deep dive into Cyprus’s AI Taskforce.
  • Powered by Meta’s own Llama 4 model, the app promises cost-effective performance over rivals like Gemini, GPT, and DeepSeek.
  • Integrated within WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, this AI assistant is set to redefine how users globally interact with technology.

Feature Highlights

Meta AI provides users with unprecedented access to image generation, editing, and voice mode for seamless multitasking within other device applications.

The AI chatbot leverages the internet and user-based data from Meta platforms, like Facebook profiles and Instagram activity, to deliver personalized user experiences with those connected accounts.

Unique interactions are available for users of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, enabling seamless communication between the glasses and the Meta AI app.

Tech Giants in the AI Arena

Beyond Meta, tech leaders like OpenAI (ChatGPT), Google (Gemini), Microsoft (Copilot), and Anthropic (Claude) are carving their niches with standalone AI offerings. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s xAI has its application, Grok, contributing to the competitive AI narrative.

A Pivotal Narrative

Though Meta entered the standalone AI race later than its peers, its deep-rooted integration within social platforms like Facebook and Instagram has allowed extensive AI model training since 2023. By December, Meta AI had engaged 600 million monthly users, surpassing the user base of OpenAI’s 400 million actively engaged weekly users. Despite this, OpenAI’s historical funding efforts powered its valuation at a staggering $300 billion by early 2025. Similarly, xAI’s Grok benefits from Musk’s immense resource pool and his advanced AI training facilities in Memphis.

Cypriot Government Employment Sees Modest Growth in April

by THEFUTURE.TEAM
May 12, 2025

Total government employment in Cyprus increased by 237 persons, a rise of 0.4 per cent, in April, compared to the same month in 2024, reaching a total of 55,490 employees, according to the state statistical service.

Employment in the civil service and the security forces decreased by 1.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively, while the educational service saw an increase of 3.8 per cent.

Civil Service and Educational Service Breakdown

In April 2025, the civil service employed 11,960 permanent staff, 4,141 employees with contracts of indefinite duration, 1,458 with contracts of definite duration, and 5,798 hourly paid workers.

Permanent employees represented the highest proportion of the civil service workforce at 51.2 per cent, while employees with contracts of definite duration made up the lowest proportion at 6.2 per cent.

In the educational service, there were 12,461 permanent employees, 947 with contracts of indefinite duration, 4,824 with contracts of definite duration, and 141 hourly paid workers.

Permanent staff formed the majority of the educational workforce at 67.8 per cent, while hourly paid workers accounted for only 0.8 per cent.

Security Forces Breakdown

Within the security forces, 8,430 were permanent employees, 4,304 held contracts of indefinite duration, 267 were on definite-duration contracts, and 759 were hourly paid workers.

Permanent employees again made up the largest group in the security forces at 61.3 per cent, with definite-duration contracts representing just 1.9 per cent.

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