In September 2023, Meta Made a big deal Among its new AI chatbots that use celebrity likenesses: Everyone from Kendall Jenner to MisterBeast have leased themselves to embody AI characters on Instagram and Facebook. There were celebrity-based bots Killed last summer Less than a year later, however, users have recently been finding a handful of other, completely fake bot profiles — and the response has not been good.
there”Jane Austen,” an “eccentric novelist and storyteller”; “Liv,” whose bio claims she is a “proud black queer mom” telling the truth; and “carter,” which promises to give users relationship advice. All are labeled as “AI Managed by Meta” and the profiles are from when the initial announcement was made. But more than a dozen AI characters have apparently not been very popular: each has only a few thousand followers, their posts receiving only a few likes and comments.
“What does an AI know about dating????” Reads a recent comment on the AI Dating Coach bot’s profile. “Not only is this virtual blackface, but it’s downright weird,” one commenter wrote on a post on Liv’s page.
Another point of anger is that there doesn’t seem to be any way to block bots through the usual channels: the option to block or restrict profiles is missing.
Many AI bots haven’t shared new content on their grid since early 2024, and it’s unclear how (or if) users have been finding and engaging with these profiles since last year. Last week, the Financial Times Reported Ki Meta envisions a future where social media platforms are filled with AI bots.
“We hope that these AIs will actually, over time, exist on our platforms, just like accounts,” Connor Hayes, vice-president of product for generative AI at Meta, told the outlet. “They will have bios and profile pictures and will be able to create and share AI-powered content on the platform. . . This is where we see it all happening.”
The idea of deliberately flooding social media with bots is ludicrous on its face, but it fits with how Meta has promoted generative AI tools. Anyone in America can Create a chatbot of your ownWith the idea that users can send their bots to their place to interact with followers. There are chatbot services like Character.ai Caught last year With people who are looking for a digital friend or a way to pass the time – but there are also AI companies Facing lawsuits Accusing them of endangering users, including children.
Meta did not immediately respond VergeQuestions about the role of these profiles, whether they are being actively developed, and whether human users are engaging with them.
