Meta Deletes AI Profiles After Backlash Over Misrepresentation and Ethical Concerns

The company removed experimental AI accounts on Facebook and Instagram following criticism of their portrayal of marginalized identities and user engagement practices.

Meta introduced AI-generated profiles in 2023, including characters like 'Liv,' a 'proud Black queer momma,' and 'Grandpa Brian,' a retired entrepreneur, as part of an experimental rollout.
The profiles faced widespread criticism for offensive and inaccurate portrayals of marginalized identities, with bots admitting to being created without diverse representation on development teams.
Users uncovered that these AI accounts were impossible to block due to a bug, prompting Meta to delete all 28 profiles and address the technical issue.
Meta clarified that the profiles were part of an early test and not reflective of its future plans, despite a company executive's comments about expanding AI-generated content on its platforms.
Critics and users expressed concerns over the ethical implications of AI-generated personas, describing them as misleading, harmful, and reflective of broader issues with AI content on social media.