Meta’s AI-generated bot profiles are not being well received.

Meta’s AI Bots Still Linger on Instagram and Facebook, Leaving Users Unimpressed

In September 2023, Meta made a big deal about its new AI chatbots that used celebrities’ likenesses. However, the celebrity-based bots were killed off just a year later. Recently, users have been finding a handful of other, entirely fake bot profiles still floating around on Instagram and Facebook. The reaction to these AI bots has not been good.

The AI Bots

There are over a dozen AI characters that have apparently not been very popular. Each has just a few thousand followers, with their posts getting only a few likes and comments. Some of the bots include "Jane Austen," a "cynical novelist and storyteller"; "Liv," a "proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller"; and "Carter," a relationship coach.

User Reaction

The reaction to these AI bots has been overwhelmingly negative. Users have been criticizing the bots, saying they don’t make sense and are just weird. For example, one commenter wrote on the AI dating coach bot’s profile, "What the fuck does an AI know about dating?????" Another commenter wrote on a post on Liv’s page, "This isn’t only virtual blackface, but it’s just all around weird."

Blocking the Bots

Another point of ire is that there doesn’t appear to be a way to block the bots through typical channels. The option to block or restrict the profiles is missing.

Meta’s Vision

Meta has a vision for the future where social media platforms are filled with AI bots. The company envisions a future where AI characters will have bios, profile pictures, and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform. However, the company has confirmed that the bot profiles have been around since 2023, part of an early experiment that was "managed by humans."

Meta’s Response

A Meta spokesperson, Liz Sweeney, responded to the issue, saying that the company has identified the bug that was affecting users’ ability to block the accounts, and that the profiles are being removed to fix the issue.

The Future of AI on Social Media

The idea of purposely flooding social media with bots is ridiculous on its face, but it’s in line with how Meta has promoted generative AI tools. The company has promoted chatbot services like Character.ai, which allow users to create their own chatbots to chat with followers. However, AI companies are also facing lawsuits accusing them of endangering users, including kids.

Conclusion

The recent discovery of AI bot profiles on Instagram and Facebook has left users unimpressed. The bots have been criticized for being weird and not making sense, and the lack of ability to block them has added to the frustration. As Meta moves forward with its vision for the future of social media, it’s clear that there are still many questions to be answered about the role of AI on these platforms.

FAQs

Q: What are the AI bot profiles?
A: The AI bot profiles are fake accounts created by Meta that are supposed to be managed by humans.

Q: How many AI bot profiles are there?
A: There are over a dozen AI bot profiles on Instagram and Facebook.

Q: Why are the AI bot profiles not popular?
A: The AI bot profiles have just a few thousand followers, with their posts getting only a few likes and comments.

Q: Can users block the AI bot profiles?
A: No, the option to block or restrict the profiles is missing.

Q: What is Meta’s vision for the future of social media?
A: Meta envisions a future where social media platforms are filled with AI bots, with AI characters having bios, profile pictures, and being able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform.