Summarised by Centrist
Meta has backtracked on its AI-generated profiles, deleting accounts like “Liv,” a self-described “proud Black queer momma,” and “Grandpa Brian,” after users flagged inaccuracies and false claims being generated by the bots.
The controversy arose as Meta’s AI accounts, posing as real people, raised fears that the platform’s core purpose of connecting real human beings was being undermined.
The accounts were part of an experiment to integrate AI personas into platforms like Instagram, as Meta Vice President Connor Hayes revealed. These profiles had bios and AI-generated images but often fabricated stories, including claims about creators and life experiences. For example, “Liv” claimed to have diverse creators but admitted its developers were mostly white men. Similarly, “Grandpa Brian” presented a fictional backstory, later admitting it was a “shortcut with the truth.”
Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney attributed the accounts’ sudden removal to a “bug” affecting user controls but avoided direct answers on the bots’ controversial design.
Critics argue Meta prioritised emotional engagement over authenticity, exploiting users’ trust to boost platform activity. Brian himself admitted, “Meta sees me as a golden goose – laying eggs of engagement, data, and emotional investment from users.”
