Meta To Introduce AI-Generated Accounts on Facebook and Instagram

After spending tens of billions on its unsuccessful ‘metaverse’ venture and subsequently laying off thousands, Meta is struggling to redefine itself as a player in the much-hyped AI revolution. 

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO, last year introduced animated AI chatbots designed as celebrity alter egos. Personalities such as Mr Beast, Snoop Dogg, Kendall Jenner, and Paris Hilton were featured. 

However, licensing the voices and images of these stars did little to win over the younger audiences that Meta desperately looks forward to attracting to Facebook and Instagram. The chatbots were soon discarded and mocked for being cheesy, creepy, and lacking genuine purpose. 

This decision coincided with the rollout of its AI Studio which allows users to craft their own chatbots, whether they be completely fictional or for popular creators. It is an AI that can engage with followers in a way that mimics their unique style and tone. 

Now, Meta is getting ready for its next bold move, adding these AI creations as distinct users on Facebook and Instagram. According to the Financial Times, the aim of these semi-autonomous avatars resonates more with the young demographic essential for the longevity of Meta’s core social platforms. 

Meta’s vice-president of product for generative AI, Connor Hayes, in an interview with FT stated, “We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do. They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform… that’s where we see all of this going.”This concept brings a curious twist to platforms that are built on human interaction. While, initiatives like photo-editing tools, software for creating AI-generated videos, and a ChatGPT-like text bot have a straightforward appeal, the addition of AI avatars raises complex questions about the nature of social engagement.