Meta* has introduced Muse Image, a new AI-powered image generator developed by its Superintelligence Labs division. Previously known internally by the codename Mango, this tool is available for free through the Meta* AI app and has also been integrated into Instagram* Stories and WhatsApp.
In terms of capabilities, Muse Image resembles other contemporary AI image generation services: users can produce illustrations based on text prompts, explore cartoon-style effects, and utilize ready-made presets—pre-crafted requests that spark ideas without requiring manual prompt writing.
Yet, one of Muse’s features has already attracted criticism due to how it handles photos from Instagram* users. If an account is set to public, other users can tag the photo owner and employ their image to generate a new AI-driven picture. No prior consent from the individual is necessary for this use.
After details about this feature surfaced, a user on social network X described the ability to create images featuring real people without explicit permission as “a privacy problem waiting to happen.”
Meta*’s policy indicates that users may create content using others’ posts through the company’s AI functions, and the image owner receives no notification about the generated material. The company asserts that users can manage how their images are utilized via settings and can disable this option. However, the feature is enabled by default for public profiles, and turning it off requires manually adjusting these parameters.
Beyond this controversial feature, Muse Image offers more standard applications. Users can craft promotional images, edit photos through text-based queries, and experiment with interior design. One example shows a user employing AI to see how a second-hand sofa would look in their garage. The company plans to connect this capability with Facebook* Marketplace, a platform for selling used goods.
Simultaneously, Meta* is rolling out new AI effects for Instagram* Stories, also powered by Muse Image. These allow for customizable filters and modifications to existing photos within the platform, where the option to use other users’ images is already available.
According to the announcement, using Muse Image for routine content creation will be free, but once a certain limit is reached, users will need a subscription. The company is also developing Muse Video, a model for video generation, though details about it remain undisclosed.
The launch of Muse comes amid ongoing debates about approaches to handling user data. The company previously faced massive criticism following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, when data from millions of Facebook* users was used without consent to build political profiles. In 2019, Meta* paid a $5 billion fine to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over this matter. Additionally, in 2021, the company shut down Facebook*’s facial recognition system following lawsuits and regulatory pressure over biometric data collection concerns. The new Muse Image feature once again raises a similar issue: default use of user content with opt-out available only through settings.
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