Meta is poised to elevate the amount of artificial intelligence integration into social media by integrating AI-generated images straight into your Instagram and Facebook feeds. The company unveiled a tool at the Meta Connect event that lets AI generate content according to your interests and the hottest topics right now. The unique aspect of this function is that, if you’ve consented, your face might appear in some of these AI-generated pictures.
The new “Imagined for You” feature generates images tailored to users, and you’ll have the option to share these creations or generate new ones in real-time. Meta gave examples of AI-generated worlds like “enchanted realms” or depicting users as astronauts or video game characters, using photos they’ve uploaded. This new approach adds a surreal, and potentially unsettling, layer to the user experience, especially when seeing an AI-generated version of yourself in a fantastical setting.
However, Meta stresses that your face will only be used in these AI-generated images if you’ve specifically signed up for the “Imagine Yourself” feature and uploaded photos with your consent. You can also remove these images from your feed if desired. The feature, currently in the testing phase, allows Meta to show the content only to you, similar to Snapchat’s AI selfie function, which uses user photos for personalized ads.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg described this as the “next logical jump” for Facebook and Instagram feeds, which have evolved from showing primarily content from friends to incorporating AI-generated content that aligns with user interests. The success of this new feature will depend on its execution, but it seems poised to push social media feeds even further away from their original purpose of connecting users with friends and family. Whether this AI-driven evolution will enhance user engagement or feel intrusive remains to be seen.
