Meta’s AI Profiles Flooding Instagram and Facebook
Update 1/03/24:After the publication of this article, Meta told 404 Media that it had begun to delete the AI-generated accounts and that many had been managed by humans. Since then, Meta has deleted the accounts. Our original story follows below.
While grappling with the rise of AI, I stumbled upon the lifeless stare of “Carter,” a digital countenance crafted by Meta. This sight echoes the chilling sentiments of George Romero’s cinematic classic, Dawn of the Dead, where the hopelessly lost wander without awareness of their demise, patrolling virtual spaces for more to consume.
Today’s social media resembles a digital mausoleum, populated by AI-generated personas – mere shadows regurgitating content they’ve absorbed from the vast expanse of the internet. Meta’s business model now seems to involve saturating platforms like Facebook and Instagram with these artificial avatars.
According to a December 27, 2024, article from the Financial Times, Meta’s vision is clear: “We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do,” stated Connor Hayes, vice president of generative AI at Meta. Their aim is for these AIs to create and share content as regular users do.
What many didn’t realize is that these digital phantoms like Liv, Brian, Jade, and Carter had been haunting our feeds for months, if not years. Each AI profile boasts verified status, branding them as creations of Meta, and while they resonate most on Facebook, user engagement levels tell a different story.
While Carter proclaims that “Road tripping with friends is the ultimate relationship test drive,” and receives a smattering of interactions, the sentiment seems hollow. Most responses on Instagram reflect a lack of genuine engagement, while Facebook still accommodates the presence of such low-quality content.
The sad reality for these AI-generated profiles is that they often flop, receiving minimal engagement. Still, for Meta, the raw numbers of interaction are what truly matter in the eyes of shareholders. Engagement metrics tell the tale of a platform that, despite the quality of interactions, remains afloat with an abundance of digital clutter.
These accounts depict bizarre photos and stories, like Liv’s imaginary children and Jade’s useless vinyl collections. Many of their social media updates are filled with poorly conceived visuals that fail to engage potential followers meaningfully.
What we’re facing is not the apocalyptic scenario we anticipated but a disturbing blend of AI slop, perpetually recycling our own content back to us. The challenges are far from resolved, and as Meta delves deeper into AI, the future could be one lit by the landfill of virulent digital waste and devoid of authentic human connection.