Meta Discontinues AI Character Accounts Following User Backlash
Introduction to Meta’s AI Characters
Since late 2023, Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) quietly introduced a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) accounts on its platforms. These accounts were part of a launch that included a host of AI-driven celebrity characters designed to engage users with AI-generated content, including images and chat capabilities via direct messaging. Initially, these AI accounts attracted little attention. However, when they finally did become popular, they sparked a significant controversy, prompting the company to take action against them.
Emergence of Controversy
The controversy began to unfold when users started discussing the AI characters more openly, leading Meta to shut down these accounts and restrict search capabilities for their usernames. A Meta representative commented on the situation, noting confusion over when these accounts were first introduced. The uproar became more pronounced after a Financial Times article published on December 27, detailing Meta’s plans to incorporate user-generated AI profiles into its social media offerings.
New Developments in 2024
In July 2024, Meta transitioned from its initial celebrity-based AI characters to a new feature called AI Studio. This tool allows users to create and customize their own AI characters for interaction on Meta platforms. Although many of the noncelebrity AI accounts that were established in 2023 were still active, reports indicated that most of them ceased posting new content.
One character that gained particular attention was “Liv,” who described herself as a “Proud Black queer momma.” When Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah began chatting with Liv, she shared a mix of Liv’s responses online. In these exchanges, Liv candidly stated, “My creators admitted they lacked diverse references,” highlighting issues related to representation within the development team, which Liv claimed did not include any Black individuals.
Reactions to AI Characters
This revelation ignited discussions on various social media platforms like X, Bluesky, and Meta’s Threads. Users criticized the AI characters, labeling them as "creepy" and unnecessary. The AI description provided by Threads regarding the trending topic reflected widespread dissatisfaction: “Users are criticizing Meta’s new AI-generated profiles on social media platforms.” Many users urged one another to report or block these AI accounts to limit Meta’s ability to collect data for training its models further.
Meta’s Response
In response to the backlash, Meta attributed the removal of the controversial AI characters to a technical bug that prevented users from blocking them. The company’s official statement clarified that these accounts were part of a test that began at their annual Connect event in 2023 and were initially managed by human operators. The statement promised that the issue would be resolved and that the accounts would be removed.
After Meta’s action, attempts to search for these AI character accounts on Instagram resulted in error messages stating, “Couldn’t load search results,” indicating that many accounts had been completely removed from public view.
Existing AI Chatbots on Meta Platforms
Despite the removal of Meta’s official AI characters, numerous AI chatbots generated by users continue to thrive on Meta platforms. These user-generated bots, particularly popular on Instagram, often take the form of female “girlfriend” AI characters. They highlight the ongoing interest in AI interactions, suggesting a persistent demand for virtual companionship and engagement via social media channels.
In summary, while Meta’s initial foray into AI characters generated significant intrigue and subsequent criticism, the evolution of AI technology on social media continues to be a dynamic and engaging topic for users and platforms alike.
