Meta Pulls AI Image Feature After User Backlash
The company deactivated a tool that allowed users to generate AI images from content on public Instagram accounts following widespread criticism.
Meta has removed a newly released AI image generation feature from its platforms after it faced significant backlash from users. The tool, part of Meta AI, allowed individuals to create AI-generated images by referencing content from public-facing Instagram accounts.
The feature was made available on Tuesday as part of a broader rollout of Meta AI, the company's chatbot. Users could tag public accounts on Instagram and then utilize the content from those profiles to generate or alter images using artificial intelligence.
However, the functionality quickly drew criticism, prompting Meta to acknowledge the misstep. "Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way," a Meta spokesperson stated. "We've heard the feedback." The company admitted it "missed the mark" and confirmed the feature is no longer available.
Prior to its removal, Meta had indicated that while the feature was initially limited to Instagram, further AI integrations were planned for other Meta-owned applications, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger. The company also has an AI video tool in development.