Meta just flipped the switch: every Threads user worldwide can now DM Meta AI. The rollout began July 27, 2026, giving half a billion users direct access to the AI chatbot.
The AI was first tested publicly on Threads’ feed in May, limited to five countries—Argentina, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. There, users could tag Meta AI with @meta.ai and see its posts. Now, the interaction moves private. Meta calls it a way to “give people greater flexibility in how and where they interact with Meta AI.”
Users can share posts, images, links, and videos right into their chat with the AI. That opens follow-up questions and deeper topic exploration in a one-on-one setting. It’s not new for Meta—the same feature runs on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Meta’s AI isn’t just a Q&A bot. Powered by its Muse Spark 1.1 model, it can pull from calendars to generate daily briefings, browse Facebook Marketplace, search for restaurants, and even draft summaries, reports, or presentations on the fly. Meta says this update is the “next step toward personal superintelligence,” a phrase CEO Mark Zuckerberg has championed as the future of AI.
But you can’t block Meta AI outright on Threads. You can mute replies or mark it “not interested,” but it sticks around. That’s a new kind of persistent digital assistant.
Parental Controls Hit Threads
Meta is also tightening the reins on parental supervision. Starting July 21, 2026, parental tools began rolling out in the U.S., with global availability planned by year-end. Parents and guardians can now track their teen’s time on Threads, set daily limits, and block access during specific days and hours.
These controls apply across multiple devices, so time spent is cumulative. Parents can mute notifications and auto-reply on their teen’s behalf between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., effectively enforcing a digital curfew. They can also limit who can tag their teen in posts.
Teens under 16 already have stricter protections like private accounts and content limits. Now, parents can adjust those settings. Meta sums it up simply: “Meta is bringing parental supervision tools to Threads.”
Conversation Focus and Smart Glasses
Meta made a last-minute pivot on its smart glasses’ Conversation Focus feature. Introduced with limits—three free hours monthly, or 15 hours under a $20-a-month Meta One Premium Plan—the company paused subscription tests on July 25, 2026.
Meta spokesperson Tyler Yee said, “we’re pausing its subscription tests for now” and promised to “make sure we get it right.” Conversation Focus remains free for early testers through the Early Access Program, while Meta rethinks the approach.
Meta’s AI push on Threads and its cautious steps on hardware show a company juggling innovation against user demands. Half a billion users now get AI in their DMs, and parents get new tools to keep tabs. Meanwhile, the smart glasses feature waits for a better rollout.
Based on
- All Threads users can now DM Meta AI — engadget.com
- Threads Is Getting New Parental Control Features — engadget.com
- Threads rolls out parental supervision tools | TechCrunch — techcrunch.com
- Meta is making its AI chatbot more like an assistant | The Verge — theverge.com
- Meta Walks Back Limits For Its Smart Glasses’ Conversation Focus Feature, For Now — engadget.com
