Key facts
- Meta has discontinued its AI image generation feature, Muse, days after its launch.
- The feature allowed users to generate images by referencing public Instagram accounts.
- Backlash arose due to privacy concerns and an opt-out policy for users.
- Talent agency CAA and union SAG-AFTRA criticized the feature.
- Meta acknowledged the feature 'missed the mark' and is no longer available.
Meta has discontinued its AI image generation feature, Muse, just days after its rollout, following significant user backlash over privacy concerns. The feature, which allowed users to create images by referencing public Instagram accounts, was met with criticism from talent agencies and unions.
Meta stated that its intention was to provide a useful creative tool and give users control over whether their public content could be referenced. However, the company acknowledged that the feature "missed the mark" and is therefore no longer available.
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) had called for Meta to implement guardrails for Muse, emphasizing that artists should decide how their likeness and work are used with consent. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) also advised its members to opt out of the feature to protect their likeness.
Previously, Meta had downplayed privacy concerns, stating that private accounts and users under 18 were automatically excluded, and adult users with public accounts could opt out. The decision to discontinue the feature comes amid ongoing debates about the use of AI in creative industries and how user data is scraped by AI models.