Instagram Head Sees Growing Anger at AI

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, stated that public frustration with artificial intelligence will continue to escalate. Speaking on the Colin and Samir podcast, Mosseri discussed the platform's recent push into widescreen and long-form video. He noted a distinct trend of rising anxiety and anger directed at AI, particularly within creative sectors. Mosseri acknowledged that this sentiment is not limited to younger demographics or specific artistic groups.

The executive described the underlying issue as a fear of being left behind. He predicted that the next two years would bring more frustration and anger, with some of those feelings being justified and others not. Mosseri said this dynamic would create difficulties for individuals outside the tech industry as well. He observed that college students have begun booing tech executives at graduation ceremonies, a sign of the growing tension.

Mosseri addressed how Instagram handles AI-generated content in its recommendation system. He admitted that the platform does not rank AI creators differently from human creators. However, he questioned whether the quality control is equal. "There’s a lot of great AI content out there, there’s also a lot of AI slop," Mosseri said. "Do we rank AI content as well as we rank non-AI content? Probably not." He added that the term "slop" is used too liberally.

The platform began removing misleading AI-generated profiles in August. This followed the launch of a labeling system for AI accounts earlier in the year. Mosseri said Instagram is actively deciding how to handle AI fakes, such as celebrity deepfakes. He stated that banning all AI content is not a practical approach for the company. Instead, Instagram is now requiring AI accounts to label themselves to help users distinguish between real and synthetic media.

Mosseri listed several specific concerns creators and users hold about the technology. He cited worries over content ownership and the training of models on user data. Safety and job displacement were also mentioned as key fears. He said that when he speaks with people in detail, the conversation often centers on a fundamental fear of being left behind. This sentiment applies to content creators, engineers, and mathematicians alike.

The podcast appearance came as Instagram expanded its video capabilities. Mosseri used the interview to explain the company's stance on the growing volume of AI-generated media. He emphasized that the platform aims to inform users about the nature of the content they view. The discussion reflected a broader corporate effort to manage user expectations regarding the integration of AI into social feeds.