Meta Unveils Muse Image: New AI Generator Sparks User Backlash Over Photo Usage Concerns
Meta introduced Muse Image on Tuesday, a new AI image generator developed by the company’s specialized AI team, Meta Superintelligence Labs. Previously known internally as Mango, this tool is now available for free via the Meta AI app, as well as on Instagram Stories and WhatsApp.
Unfortunately, the new feature has sparked controversy.
So, what can Muse do? Its capabilities are similar to those of other AI image generators, enabling users to create a variety of playful, cartoon-like images.
For those struggling with original prompts, Meta offers “presets” — ready-made image prompts to help ignite creativity.
One particularly concerning feature allows users to manipulate images of other Instagram users, provided the profiles are public. By tagging the person, users can take their image and produce a new AI-generated creation.
One user expressed concerns on X after The Verge highlighted this issue, stating, “Incorporating real users into generated images without consent is a privacy disaster waiting to happen.”
According to Meta’s policy, “people may be able to create content using your Instagram content within AI features at Meta,” and it adds that “you will not be informed about content generated using these AI features.”
Meta claims users have control over this functionality, stating that there are options to disable the use of their pictures if desired.
Muse offers less invasive features as well, such as generating custom advertisements, which have increasingly utilized AI in recent times. Additionally, users can explore interior design concepts, as demonstrated in a promotional video where a user visualizes how a secondhand couch would look in their garage. This feature is intended to work with Facebook Marketplace, Meta’s widely-used platform for buying and selling furniture and accessories.
The model also includes prompt-based image editing, allowing users to create images for sharing across various Meta applications.
“Request it to create an image of you at a historical site, remove an unwanted person from your photo, or generate a functional QR code,” the company suggests.
In conjunction with the launch of Muse, Meta is rolling out a range of new AI effects for Instagram Stories, again tied to the concerns surrounding photo tagging. These include customizable filters that can alter existing images.
Meta states that using the new AI model is free for regular creations, though a subscription will be needed once users surpass a certain limit.
The company also announced that Muse Video — likely an AI video generator — is currently in the works. TechCrunch has reached out to Meta for additional details.
Over the past year, Meta has introduced several AI applications and services, including an AI assistant called Creator and Pocket, an app designed for video game coding. However, the company has faced criticism for its unclear AI strategy, even as it plans significant spending on AI infrastructure this year to enhance its offerings.
Concerns about Meta’s privacy practices contribute to user apprehension regarding Muse. In 2019, the firm paid a substantial $5 billion fine to the FTC after it was discovered that Cambridge Analytica had improperly collected data from millions of Facebook users to create targeted voter profiles for the 2016 U.S. election, all without users’ knowledge. Facebook was aware of this data misuse long before it became public.
In a separate incident, the company discontinued Facebook’s facial recognition system in 2021 following lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny concerning its handling of biometric data. Essentially, Muse’s photo-tagging functionality, which is set to opt-out by default, mirrors a broader trend of using individuals’ data without their consent unless actively disabled.
