Instagram Dipping Toes In AI
The digital age is upon us, and it’s not taking prisoners. Instagram, the social media giant, is stepping into the future with a new feature that identifies AI-generated content. A recent discovery by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi reveals a page in the Instagram app that notifies users when content has been “created or edited with AI.” This is not just a statement; it’s a declaration of the new era.
Meta’s Commitment to Responsible AI
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is not alone in this venture. Alongside tech behemoths like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, Meta has pledged to the White House to develop responsible AI. This includes a watermarking system to inform users when content is AI-generated. The question is not if, but how automated this labeling system will be. Will it rely on users’ honesty, or will Meta take the reins? The words “Meta said” in the notice hint at a proactive approach.
A Taste of AI-Generated Misinformation
We’ve already seen glimpses of what AI-generated misinformation can do. Remember the viral image of the pope in a swagged-out puffy jacket? A harmless prank, perhaps, but a harbinger of the potential dangers of AI in satellite images and political photography. The tools are here, and they’re not playing games.
Meta’s Open-Source Approach and Future Plans
Meta’s recent open-sourcing of its large language model LLaMA 2 is just the tip of the iceberg. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has hinted at features like using text prompts to modify photos for Instagram Stories. An “AI brush” feature could “add or replace specific parts” of images. And let’s not forget the AI chatbot ‘personas’ feature that could be integrated as soon as next month. The future is not just coming; it’s here.
Beyond Meta: Google’s Contribution
Google is not sitting idly by. Its new tool, “About this image,” launching this summer, will help users determine if an image has been AI-generated. It’s a step towards transparency, a step towards a world where technology serves us, not the other way around.
