Meta scraps Instagram’s nuevo AI image generation tool following backlash

Meta has removed a new feature that allowed people to use AI to make images from user content on Instagram.

Por qué esta historia importa ahora

Muse Image, Meta's first venture into AI image generation, permitted users of the Meta AI chatbot to tag public-facing Instagram accounts and use whatever content the chatbot finds to create AI-generated images.

El contexto que mueve la conversación

When it was announced, Meta said that it was limited to Instagram, but WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger integrations were planned. However, the feature soon received backlash.

Qué puede pasar después

As Instagram users were opted in without being notified, this meant that anyone with a public account could have their likeness used to generate images, without the user's knowledge or permission.

Lectura rápida para la comunidad

The subsequent backlash caused Meta to U-turn and remove the feature. According to an update posted to Meta's website, the statement said: “Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool [...] We've ​heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so ⁠it's no longer available."

SAG-AFTRA, the union for screen actors, had previously warned users about the feature and encouraged them to opt out. Now, in light of the decision to remove it, SAG-AFTRA has declared the move a victory.

"With the dangers of nonconsensual digital ​replicas well ⁠known to all, a feature that encouraged that behavior is unwise," a spokesperson told Reuters. "We appreciate its discontinuance. It is the responsible thing to do."

For more on AI, check out our coverage of the musician with Parkinson’s who used AI to finish their album after losing ability to play the guitar, or the tech company who launched an AI Jesus you could speak to for $2 a minute.44:T100c, <p