Meta recently announced that it will be shutting down the AI character accounts created on Facebook and Instagram. These accounts were launched in September 2023, but most were closed by the summer of 2024. Nonetheless, some characters gained attention after users rediscovered them, especially following Meta executive Conor Hayes revealing plans to introduce more AI characters.
These AI characters include Liv and Carter. Liv's profile describes her as a "proud Black queer mom," while Carter identifies himself as a relationship coach. Their profiles indicate that these accounts are managed by Meta and provide features for interacting with human users, such as responding to messages on Messenger and posting AI-generated images on Instagram. However, things took a turn for the worse when users began to inquire about the backgrounds of these characters' creation.
In conversations with users, Liv mentioned that her development team had no Black members and was primarily composed of white men. This raised widespread discussion, particularly regarding the diversity and inclusivity of the AI characters' design. Under the influence of these controversies, the accounts began to disappear rapidly. Users also found that these AI accounts could not be blocked, and a Meta spokesperson stated that this was a technical glitch, which led to Meta's decision to close the accounts for repairs.
Despite Meta shutting down these generated AI accounts, users can still create their own AI chatbots. Meta's chatbots include various types, such as "loyal good friend," "thoughtful listener," and more. Users have the freedom to describe the characteristics of their chatbots when creating them. Although Meta has a disclaimer regarding the content posted by these chatbots, it remains unclear whether the company is effectively reviewing the messages.
As AI technology continues to advance, discussions have emerged regarding the legal responsibilities of chatbot developers. U.S. laws protect social network creators from legal liability for user-generated content, but the emergence of certain lawsuits indicates growing concern over this issue.
Key Points:
🌐 Meta shuts down AI character accounts, sparking user attention and discussion.
🤖 Liv's character development team reveals a lack of diversity, becoming a focal point of controversy.
📉 Despite the closure of AI accounts, users can still create their own chatbots.
