{"id":3490823,"date":"2026-07-07T22:18:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T22:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/07\/meta-has-recently-introduced-a-new-ai-generator-muse-image-and-users-are-already-expressing-concerns-regarding-the-use-of-their-images\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T22:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T22:18:10","slug":"meta-has-recently-introduced-a-new-ai-generator-muse-image-and-users-are-already-expressing-concerns-regarding-the-use-of-their-images","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/07\/meta-has-recently-introduced-a-new-ai-generator-muse-image-and-users-are-already-expressing-concerns-regarding-the-use-of-their-images\/","title":{"rendered":"Meta has recently introduced a new AI generator, Muse Image, and users are already expressing concerns regarding the use of their images."},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\n

On Tuesday, Meta introduced Muse Image, a new AI image generator developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs, the company\u2019s specialized AI division. The functionality, which was internally referred to as Mango, is now accessible for free via the Meta AI app, as well as on Instagram Stories and WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

Regrettably, the new model is already stirring up controversy.<\/p>\n

What can you do with Muse? It appears that the use cases are akin to those of most other AI image generators \u2014 you will have the ability to create a multitude of whimsical, cartoon-like images, for example.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself lacking inspiration and unable to create original prompts, Meta states that Muse offers \u201cpresets\u201d\u2014 ready-made image prompts \u2014 to \u201cinspire creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, one particularly eyebrow-raising functionality enables users to alter another Instagram user’s images using AI, as long as that user\u2019s profile is public. Users simply tag the person, allowing them to take their photo and utilize it to generate a new AI image.<\/p>\n

One X user remarked after The Verge highlighted how potentially intrusive this is: \u201cIncorporating real users into generated images without explicit consent is a privacy issue just waiting to explode.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meta\u2019s policy indicates that \u201cindividuals may be able to produce content with your Instagram content using AI features at Meta\u201d and that \u201cyou will not receive a notification regarding content created using AI features at Meta.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meta asserts that users \u201cpossess control\u201d over this feature, emphasizing that there are settings available to prevent this type of appropriation of your images, should you choose to do so.<\/p>\n

Muse also has other, less intrusive uses. One function is generating customized advertisements (AI has significantly entered the advertising space in the past year). Another is exploring ideas for interior decor \u2014 in a promotional video, a user utilizes Muse to envision how a secondhand couch could appear in their garage. This last feature is designed to connect with Facebook Marketplace, Meta\u2019s popular platform for used furniture and accessories.<\/p>\n

The model additionally offers prompt-based image editing, allowing users to create images to share among Meta\u2019s apps and platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cRequest it to generate an image of you in front of a historical site, cleanly remove a photobomber from a background shot, or create a custom prompt to design a functioning QR code,\u201d the company suggests.<\/p>\n

Simultaneously, Meta is introducing various new AI effects for Instagram Stories, powered by Muse \u2014 notably, the same platform at the center of the photo-tagging debates mentioned earlier. These effects comprise customizable filters capable of altering existing photos.<\/p>\n

Meta states that the use of the new AI model is free for \u201ceveryday creation,\u201d although users will require a subscription plan upon surpassing a certain limit.<\/p>\n

The company also indicated that Muse Video \u2014 presumably an AI video generator \u2014 is \u201ccurrently under development.\u201d TechCrunch has contacted Meta for additional details.<\/p>\n

Over the past year, Meta has launched a variety of AI applications and services, including an AI assistant named Creator and Pocket, an application that can be used to vibe-code video games. The company has faced accusations of possessing an unclear AI strategy, even as it continues to plan significant investments in AI infrastructure this year as it expands its offerings.<\/p>\n

Meta\u2019s record on privacy contributes to users\u2019 apprehension regarding Muse. The company previously paid a then-record $5 billion penalty to the FTC in 2019, after regulators discovered that the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had improperly harvested data from millions of Facebook users \u2014 without their awareness \u2014 to create voter-targeting profiles before the 2016 U.S. election. Facebook had been aware of the data misuse for years prior to its public revelation.<\/p>\n

Separately, the company discontinued Facebook\u2019s facial-recognition system in 2021 \u2014 a tool that automatically recognized individuals in images and videos \u2014 amid lawsuits and regulatory pressure concerning its acquisition of biometric data. Essentially, Muse\u2019s photo-tagging functionality, which is opt-out by default, aligns with a pattern highlighted by users and regulators: widespread use of individuals\u2019 data unless they actively deactivate it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When you click on links within our articles, we may earn a minor commission. This does not impact our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/div>\n
\n

On Tuesday, Meta introduced Muse Image, a new AI image generator developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs, the company\u2019s specialized AI division. The functionality, which was internally referred to as Mango, is now accessible for free via the Meta AI app, as well as on Instagram Stories and WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

Regrettably, the new model is already stirring up controversy.<\/p>\n

What can you do with Muse? It appears that the use cases are akin to those of most other AI image generators \u2014 you will have the ability to create a multitude of whimsical, cartoon-like images, for example.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself lacking inspiration and unable to create original prompts, Meta states that Muse offers \u201cpresets\u201d\u2014 ready-made image prompts \u2014 to \u201cinspire creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, one particularly eyebrow-raising functionality enables users to alter another Instagram user’s images using AI, as long as that user\u2019s profile is public. Users simply tag the person, allowing them to take their photo and utilize it to generate a new AI image.<\/p>\n

One X user remarked after The Verge highlighted how potentially intrusive this is: \u201cIncorporating real users into generated images without explicit consent is a privacy issue just waiting to explode.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meta\u2019s policy indicates that \u201cindividuals may be able to produce content with your Instagram content using AI features at Meta\u201d and that \u201cyou will not receive a notification regarding content created using AI features at Meta.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meta asserts that users \u201cpossess control\u201d over this feature, emphasizing that there are settings available to prevent this type of appropriation of your images, should you choose to do so.<\/p>\n

Muse also has other, less intrusive uses. One function is generating customized advertisements (AI has significantly entered the advertising space in the past year). Another is exploring ideas for interior decor \u2014 in a promotional video, a user utilizes Muse to envision how a secondhand couch could appear in their garage. This last feature is designed to connect with Facebook Marketplace, Meta\u2019s popular platform for used furniture and accessories.<\/p>\n

The model additionally offers prompt-based image editing, allowing users to create images to share among Meta\u2019s apps and platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cRequest it to generate an image of you in front of a historical site, cleanly remove a photobomber from a background shot, or create a custom prompt to design a functioning QR code,\u201d the company suggests.<\/p>\n

Simultaneously, Meta is introducing various new AI effects for Instagram Stories, powered by Muse \u2014 notably, the same platform at the center of the photo-tagging debates mentioned earlier. These effects comprise customizable filters capable of altering existing photos.<\/p>\n

Meta states that the use of the new AI model is free for \u201ceveryday creation,\u201d although users will require a subscription plan upon surpassing a certain limit.<\/p>\n

The company also indicated that Muse Video \u2014 presumably an AI video generator \u2014 is \u201ccurrently under development.\u201d TechCrunch has contacted Meta for additional details.<\/p>\n

Over the past year, Meta has launched a variety of AI applications and services, including an AI assistant named Creator and Pocket, an application that can be used to vibe-code video games. The company has faced accusations of possessing an unclear AI strategy, even as it continues to plan significant investments in AI infrastructure this year as it expands its offerings.<\/p>\n

Meta\u2019s record on privacy contributes to users\u2019 apprehension regarding Muse. The company previously paid a then-record $5 billion penalty to the FTC in 2019, after regulators discovered that the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had improperly harvested data from millions of Facebook users \u2014 without their awareness \u2014 to create voter-targeting profiles before the 2016 U.S. election. Facebook had been aware of the data misuse for years prior to its public revelation.<\/p>\n

Separately, the company discontinued Facebook\u2019s facial-recognition system in 2021 \u2014 a tool that automatically recognized individuals in images and videos \u2014 amid lawsuits and regulatory pressure concerning its acquisition of biometric data. Essentially, Muse\u2019s photo-tagging functionality, which is opt-out by default, aligns with a pattern highlighted by users and regulators: widespread use of individuals\u2019 data unless they actively deactivate it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When you click on links within our articles, we may earn a minor commission. This does not impact our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3490824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3490823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3490823"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3490823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3490823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3490824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3490823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3490823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3490823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}