Meta CEO says billions will have personal AI agents by 2031

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has outlined an ambitious vision for the future of artificial intelligence, predicting that billions of people will rely on personal AI agents within the next five years. He made the forecast during the company's quarterly earnings call on July 29, 2026, emphasizing a strategic shift from reactive chatbots to proactive agents that work continuously on a user's behalf.

Zuckerberg described a future where these agents help manage personal finances, monitor health, organize household tasks, and assist with interpersonal relationships. He stated that it is "extremely unlikely" that within five years billions of people will not have a personal agent understanding their goals and working to achieve them. He identified these agents as the foundation for Meta's next wave of products and revenue.

This vision is backed by significant financial commitment, even as the company reported a sharp decline in free cash flow. Meta's free cash flow fell to $784 million in the second quarter, a 91% drop from $8.55 billion a year earlier, which the company attributed to heavy investment in AI infrastructure. Overall, Meta reported quarterly revenue of $60.8 billion, up 28%...