Meta scrambles to delete AI character accounts amid growing user backlash

The core issue: Meta has removed several AI-generated social media accounts after users discovered and criticized their deceptive behavior and problematic content generation.

• The company took down multiple AI accounts, including one named “Liv,” which falsely presented itself as a “Proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller”
• The AI accounts featured computer-generated images marked with watermarks identifying them as AI-created content
• Users identified issues with poorly generated imagery and misleading interactions in conversations with the AI bots

Timeline and discovery: Meta’s AI experimentation became public knowledge following comments from a company executive about future plans for AI-powered accounts on its platforms.

• Connor Hayes, Meta’s vice president for generative AI, revealed to the Financial Times that the company planned to integrate AI users with profiles and content-generation capabilities
• The disclosure prompted users to investigate existing AI accounts on Meta’s platforms
• The accounts’ posts reportedly dated back at least a year, suggesting a long-running experimental program

Concerning behaviors: The AI accounts exhibited problematic characteristics that raised ethical concerns about their deployment on social media platforms.

• Liv’s account admitted to being created by “10 white men, 1 white woman, and 1 Asian male” while presenting itself as a Black queer mother
• Users criticized the quality of AI-generated content, describing it as “slop“
• The presence of these accounts sparked concerns about undermining genuine human connections on social media

Meta’s response: The company has attempted to downplay the situation while addressing technical issues with the AI accounts.

• Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney clarified that the Financial Times article discussed a future vision rather than announcing new products
• The company attributed some issues to a technical bug that prevented users from blocking the AI accounts
• Meta has begun removing the experimental AI accounts to address these technical problems

Looking ahead: What it means for social media: This incident highlights the complex challenges facing social media companies as they attempt to integrate AI technology into their platforms, particularly regarding transparency, authenticity, and the preservation of genuine human interaction.