Facebook rolling out personal messenger assistant to UK users

Facebook has announced that it will be rolling out M, the personal assistant function attached to its Messenger function, to users of the social network in the UK for the first time.

Initially launched in the US in April this year, M works by suggesting artificial intelligence-driven additions to Messenger conversations, for example, by recommending that users wish each other happy birthday, vote on a topic of debate or react to a comment in a certain way with the use of emojis or stickers.

In a statement, Facebook explained: "M has been delighting people with suggestions, enriching the way people communicate and get things done - think of Suggestions from M as a new layer to conversations, enriching social interactions on Messenger."

M could change the way that brands are able to react with their customers via the social media platform too, advising on how complaints or suggestions are responded to, for instance.