 "Instagram is randomly showing users their AI-generated images on their timelines")
Instagram has started experimenting with a new feature where Meta’s AI generates images of users in imaginative scenarios and slips them into their feeds. The feature recently caught attention when a Reddit user shared their experience of seeing AI-generated images of themselves standing in a surreal “maze of mirrors” while scrolling. These images weren’t part of an ad but appeared as personalised content directly on their timeline.
The user explained that they had previously uploaded selfies to Meta’s AI-powered “Imagine” tool, a feature that lets people create AI-enhanced versions of their photos. However, they were surprised to see the tool take it a step further, automatically generating scenarios like the reflective maze and placing them on their feed with a playful caption about “reflecting on life.”
From scepticism to confirmation
When the Reddit post first surfaced, it was met with disbelief. Comments ranged from outright dismissal to conspiracy theories, with people calling it fake or accusing the poster of making it up. The user had to repeatedly clarify that the images were real, even sharing screenshots as proof.
Meta eventually stepped in to confirm that this was not a hoax. According to the company, the AI-generated images are not advertisements but part of a September-announced feature designed to create personalised content based on user interests or trends. Meta’s AI can now generate visual interpretations of users’ selfies, imagining them in various roles like astronauts or video game characters.
How the “Imagine Yourself” feature works
The “Imagine Yourself” tool allows users to upload multiple selfies, which Meta’s AI uses to create unique versions of them in creative settings. The tool’s prompts can inspire anything from mundane scenarios to extraordinary roles, such as being placed in outer space. Once activated, the AI sometimes generates content automatically, inserting these whimsical images into users’ feeds without prior prompts.
Meta clarified that this is part of its broader plan to integrate more AI-generated content into Facebook and Instagram feeds. The company explained that users can engage with these images by swiping to explore other ideas or tapping prompts to tweak the generated content further.
The bigger picture: AI everywhere
This incident is just one example of how AI is becoming a more prominent part of social media. Over the same weekend, Meta’s AI-generated profiles also went viral but were later removed from the platform. Meta seems intent on embedding AI-driven content deeper into its apps, even using AI-generated versions of users themselves to fill feeds with tailored, playful visuals.
While some find this new approach entertaining, others are uneasy about the increasing use of AI in personal content, with concerns about privacy and consent looming large. Meta, however, appears confident that its users are ready for more AI in their digital lives. Whether they actually are remains to be seen.
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