Meta has discontinued its newly launched AI image generation feature, Muse Image, just days after its debut following widespread criticism over privacy concerns. The tool, introduced as part of Meta Superintelligence Labs and integrated into the Meta AI chatbot, allowed users to generate and edit AI images using publicly available Instagram photos.
The feature sparked backlash from users and digital rights advocates because it was enabled by default, allowing public Instagram content to be used without prior opt in. Critics argued that users should have been required to give explicit consent before their images could be used for AI generated content.
Responding to the criticism, Meta announced on Friday that it had withdrawn the feature, admitting it had “missed the mark.” The company said its intention was to provide a creative tool while giving users control over how their public content was referenced, but acknowledged the concerns raised by the public.
The controversy intensified after Emmy Award winning actor Hannah Einbinder urged Instagram users to disable the feature, while the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists welcomed its removal. The union maintained that AI systems should only use people’s images with clear and explicit consent, describing Meta’s decision as the responsible response to growing concerns over non consensual AI generated digital replicas.