Muse Image is the name for a new feature that Meta introduced on Tuesday, July 7, but it’s now been removed again. The feature allowed users to generate images, but there was a controversial detail which alarmed many. Here’s what happened, and where we are now.
Meta’s Muse Image And Why It Was Controversial
Muse Image was “the first AI image generation model from Meta Superintelligence Labs,” Meta said. The feature let people use public Instagram posts and reels to generate AI content, creating effects with a single tap. All well and good, if you wanted your public posts to be used in this way. However, the way the new feature was set up, it meant that any Instagram account that wasn’t set to private could have their content used.
In other words, the feature was turned on by default. If you didn’t want your images used, you needed to turn off the permissions. If you hadn’t done that, then the feature would allow others to use your profile and other pictures to generate images.
How The Response To Meta’s New Feature Took Shape
The backlash was quick and considerable — you can read more about it from Forbes Senior Contributor Kate O’Flaherty here. Not only could others seize upon your images, it could be used by criminals.
There were simple ways to opt out but if you didn’t know about the feature or even whether your account was private or not, you probably wouldn’t have known to do this.
Well, there’s no need to opt out of anything now.
Meta’s Unusually Swift U-Turn On Default User Consent
That’s because on Friday, July 10, there was an update. Meta paused the feature and issued a statement.
“Earlier this week, we announced that one way for people to generate images in Meta AI is by @-mentioning public Instagram accounts that they want to reference. Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way. We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available,” the statement said.
Privacy is a hot-button topic these days, so it’s a surprise that the on-by-default aspect made it through. That said, Meta has certainly reacted quickly to rescue the situation.