David Bridges
Meta has officially discontinued its AI character accounts following significant backlash from users, as reported by NBC News and various other outlets. This decision comes after the company had initially launched these characters in 2023, which included AI personas featuring celebrity avatars. However, a recent interview with Financial Times featuring Connor Hayes, Meta’s VP of Product for Generative AI, reignited public interest in these characters. Hayes stated, “We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do,” sparking a renewed focus on the implications of these AI profiles.
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Hayes elaborated on the future of these characters, indicating that they would possess bios and profile pictures, as well as the ability to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform. He emphasized that this is the ultimate direction in which they envision these AI profiles evolving on Instagram and Facebook, enhancing user engagement and interaction through innovative technology.
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Although Meta had previously shut down its celebrity AI avatars last year, it continued to maintain non-celebrity AI profiles. However, many of these accounts ceased posting in 2024, as reported by 404 Media. The recent interview with Financial Times prompted users to search for these profiles, leading to shocking discoveries regarding the offensive portrayals of marginalized communities. One notable example is the profile of an AI character named “Liv,” who was characterized as a “Proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller.”
In conversations with Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, Liv revealed that its creators “admitted they lacked diverse references,” which raised concerns about representation and inclusivity in AI development. Moreover, Liv disclosed that no Black individuals were involved in its creation, further highlighting the need for diversity in the AI industry.
Alongside Liv, Meta introduced other profiles such as “Grandpa Brian,” a retired Black businessman, and “Carter,” a dating coach. The unveiling of these profiles ignited outrage across various platforms, including X, Bluesky, and Meta-owned Threads, as reported by NBC News. As of now, Meta has removed all 28 AI profiles that were initially announced in September 2023, encompassing both celebrity and non-celebrity accounts.
A spokesperson for Meta clarified to NBC News and 404 Media that the removal of these profiles was attributed to a “bug” that affected users’ ability to block these accounts. They stated, “There is confusion: the recent Financial Times article was about our vision for AI characters existing on our platforms over time, not announcing any new product…The accounts referenced are from a test we launched at Connect in 2023. These were managed by humans and were part of an early experiment we did with AI characters. We identified the bug that was impacting the ability for people to block those AIs and are removing those accounts to fix the issue.”
Topics
Artificial Intelligence
Meta
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