Facebook researching human-powered personal assistant service to rival Apple's Siri
With good number of major tech companies fielding their own brand of virtual assistant technology, Facebook is reportedly eyeing its own entry with "Moneypenny," a hybrid feature that helps users complete tasks like buying products and services online.
Being tested internally, Moneypenny, named after the James Bond franchise character who serves as M's secretary, is said to bring a human touch to modern digital assistants, reports The Information. For example, users might ask Moneypenny to research and purchase an HDTV.
Not much is known beyond a codename and vague feature overview, though it is thought to be under testing as part of Facebook Messenger. Sources did not specify how Facebook plans to process incoming requests, but the publication noted Moneypenny could follow similar business models in operation at so-called "concierge" firms like Magic, Operator and Fetch.
