Facebook to open AI lab in Montreal headed by McGill professor

In the future, Facebook wants to replace clicking buttons and tapping on screens with natural conversations. The idea, according to Mike Schroepfer, Facebook's chief technology officer, is users could ask Facebook for an update on a family member, the news or even to suggest a friend they haven't seen in while they might want to catch up with. "I think of it as a full-time, 24/7 personal assistant that helps me stay connected with all the things I care about in the world," Schroepfer said. "That is beyond the reach of current technology." Now, a Montreal-based team will be working to help make the technology a reality.