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Or sign-in if you have an account.Meta has entered the crowded market of AI image generators with the launch of Muse Image. Photo by Imen Ben Youssef/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty ImagesMeta is facing criticism for its inaugural AI image generator, Muse Image. The new model allows anyone to use your content by default if you’re an adult with a public Instagram account. Doing so is apparently as simple as tagging a public profile in the Meta AI app and prompting the chatbot to generate new images based on photos from that account.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorOn July 7, Meta joined the ranks of many other AI image generators on the market — including the successor to Google’s viral sensation, Nano Banana 2 — with the launch of the first media generation models developed by its Superintelligence Labs: Muse Image and Muse Video.Meta says Muse Image “uses advanced reasoning to understand complex prompts, seamlessly blending multiple photos into high-quality creations you can download and share anywhere — including directly to your chat, story or feed.”Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againCritics, on the other hand, are concerned about non-consensual image manipulation. Adults with public Instagram accounts were automatically opted in. Unless they opt out, people can use their published photos to create new AI images.The backlash came swiftly, with users expressing their displeasure on social media. As one wrote on X, “Pulling real users into generated photos without explicit consent is a privacy landmine waiting to detonate.”Technology advocates and talent agencies also raised concerns about privacy and consent.Donald Campbell, director of advocacy at the tech justice non-profit Foxglove, told the BBC that the move was an “obvious recipe for disaster.” Creative Artists Agency reportedly called for Meta to make the feature opt-in rather than opt-out, saying in a statement, “No one’s name, image, likeness, voice or creative work should be used by any third party, including AI models, without clear, documented consent. True innovation puts creators first: respecting their rights, protecting their livelihoods, and giving them real control, not handing it over to platforms.”A Meta spokesperson reportedly said in a statement that the company built Muse Image with strong controls and safety guardrails. “Private accounts and those belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded and adult users with public accounts can opt out with just a couple clicks. We will take action against any content that violates our Community Standards.”Users can opt out by setting their Instagram profiles to private or, if they wish to keep them public, tapping the profile picture icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then the menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner, and scrolling down to “Sharing and reuse.”In the U.S., the sections are reportedly titled “Allow people to reuse your content on Instagram and with AI features,” which users with public accounts can turn off.In Canada, users with public accounts can currently toggle off the options that allow people “to create with and reuse your content” (posts and reels, with no mention of AI), and to “create with and reuse your original audio on Meta AI” (reels only).Meta rolled out Muse Image on the Meta AI app and meta.ai, Instagram Stories in the United States and WhatsApp in limited countries. The company announced it will soon bring the image generation model “to more countries and the places where people use Meta AI, including Facebook and Messenger, and additional surfaces on Instagram and WhatsApp.” It expects to release Muse Video, its AI video generator, in the months ahead.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.