Meta has launched AI Studio, a new tool that allows users in the US to create AI versions of themselves on Instagram or via the web.
This feature is designed for creators and business owners to use AI profiles to interact with their followers. These AI profiles can engage in chat threads and respond to comments on the creator’s behalf. Users can start with AI Studio through its website or by initiating a new “AI chat” directly on Instagram.
In a blog post on Monday, Meta explained that creators can customize their AI profiles based on their Instagram content, topics to avoid, and links they want to share. The AI can be programmed for auto-replies and can be restricted to interact with specific accounts.
AI Studio also enables the creation of entirely new AI characters that can be used across Meta’s apps. This move positions Meta against startups like Character.AI and Replika, which offer themed chatbots for users to interact with. Similar to OpenAI’s custom GPT Store, Meta will showcase these user-created AI characters for others to try.
Previously, Meta experimented with celebrities creating AI versions of themselves, each with different names and personas, to avoid the risk of AI saying problematic things on behalf of their human counterparts. Despite the controls built into AI Studio, there are still concerns about generative AI behavior. Meta has addressed these concerns by clearly labeling AI profiles and providing a handbook for creators on the AI creation process. Creators can specify topics their AI will not discuss, such as financial advice.
Prepare for an influx of AI profiles on Instagram, as Meta’s AI Studio opens new avenues for interaction and engagement on social media.
