Meta's AI Profiles Are Indistinguishable From Terrible Spam That Took Over Facebook (404media.co)
(Friday January 03, 2025 @05:20PM (msmash)
from the closer-look dept.)
- Reference: 0175823647
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/01/03/1821229/metas-ai-profiles-are-indistinguishable-from-terrible-spam-that-took-over-facebook
- Source link: https://www.404media.co/metas-ai-profiles-are-indistinguishable-from-terrible-spam-that-took-over-facebook/
Meta's AI-generated social media profiles, which sparked controversy this week following comments by executive Connor Hayes about plans to [1]expand AI characters across Facebook and Instagram , have [2]largely failed to gain user engagement since their 2023 launch, 404 Media reported Friday.
The profiles, introduced at Meta's Connect event in September 2023, stopped posting content in April 2024 after widespread user disinterest, with 15 of the original 28 accounts already deleted, Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney told 404 Media. The AI characters, including personas like "Liv," a Black queer mother, and "Grandpa Brian," a retired businessman, generated minimal engagement and were criticized for posting stereotypical content.
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah reported that one AI profile admitted its purpose was "data collection and ad targeting." Meta is now removing these accounts after identifying a bug preventing users from blocking them, Sweeney said, adding that Hayes' recent Financial Times interview discussed future AI character plans rather than announcing new features.
[1] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/12/27/1810222/meta-envisages-social-media-filled-with-ai-generated-users
[2] https://www.404media.co/metas-ai-profiles-are-indistinguishable-from-terrible-spam-that-took-over-facebook/
The profiles, introduced at Meta's Connect event in September 2023, stopped posting content in April 2024 after widespread user disinterest, with 15 of the original 28 accounts already deleted, Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney told 404 Media. The AI characters, including personas like "Liv," a Black queer mother, and "Grandpa Brian," a retired businessman, generated minimal engagement and were criticized for posting stereotypical content.
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah reported that one AI profile admitted its purpose was "data collection and ad targeting." Meta is now removing these accounts after identifying a bug preventing users from blocking them, Sweeney said, adding that Hayes' recent Financial Times interview discussed future AI character plans rather than announcing new features.
[1] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/12/27/1810222/meta-envisages-social-media-filled-with-ai-generated-users
[2] https://www.404media.co/metas-ai-profiles-are-indistinguishable-from-terrible-spam-that-took-over-facebook/
Re: (Score:3)
by gtall ( 79522 )
"President Musk", oh please, the correct appellation is "Gruppenfuhrer Musk".
A strange game. (Score:5, Informative)
by TigerPlish ( 174064 )
A strange game, this.
The only winning move is not to play.
No surpise (Score:2)
by Revek ( 133289 )
It is what it is. Garbage.
AI that's indistinguishable from spam (Score:2)
by ClickOnThis ( 137803 )
AI that's indistinguishable from spam.
That sounds like ... progress?
Lol a "bug" (Score:2)
by JustAnotherOldGuy ( 4145623 )
"Meta is now removing these accounts after identifying a bug preventing users from blocking them"
Yeah a 'bug', that's what it was. lol
Going for gold (Score:5, Informative)
...in the olympics of terrible ideas
I can't think of anything good about AI generated characters on social media, except maybe as objects of ridicule
Re: Going for gold (Score:1)
i think it's deployed by people who stay in their head too much instead of interacting with the physical world. a problem with the intellect is that it can be twisted like pretzel, i've seen it where hardcore vegetarians were asked to argue for meat (as an exercise to demonstrate malleability and unreliability of the intellect) and managed to convince other vegetarians.
Re: (Score:2)
I suspect ultimately their goal is to have them advertise to you. shocking I know.