Meta’s AI innovations took center stage at the company’s annual Meta Connect event. Among the highlights were updates to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and the rollout of the experimental ‘Imagine’ feature to Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Originally introduced earlier this year, ‘Imagine’ allows users to recreate their profile pictures in various AI-generated styles. Now available to all users, it enables the creation of posts and Stories using AI-generated images. Additionally, Meta is testing a new feature that auto-generates images and recommends sharing them.
Meta AI Expands ‘Imagine’ Feature In a newsroom post, Meta detailed how the ‘Imagine’ feature works. Users can generate images from text prompts or upload an image as a base for AI-generated modifications. Previously, it wasn’t possible to use profile pictures for this feature, but at Meta Connect 2024, the company announced that this functionality is now open to all Facebook and Instagram users.
With ‘Imagine,’ users can ask Meta AI to portray them as a superhero, royal monarch, astronaut, and more. The AI-generated images are stylized rather than hyper-realistic, and Meta includes AI-generated watermarks to identify them.
In Instagram DMs and Messenger, AI will now generate personalized chat themes, allowing a higher level of customization than just changing background colors or chat bubbles.
Meta is also testing an auto-recommendation feature for ‘Imagine.’ Users will see AI-generated profile pictures in their feed based on personal interests or trends. If they like an image, they can share it or modify it further before posting to their feed or Stories.