Instagram head Adam Mosseri warns creators that AI backlash is only going to get worse

Instagram head Adam Mosseri warned in a recent podcast that the backlash against artificial intelligence will only worsen in the coming years, causing increased anxiety and resentment. Mosseri believes that social media platforms, like Meta, may struggle to control the negative sentiment surrounding AI. He noted that the issue is most prevalent in creative industries, where creators worry about content ownership, potential misuse of their work in AI training, and the threat of job loss.

Many creators and influencers, whose livelihoods depend on social media, are particularly concerned about AI-generated personas and copycat accounts. Mosseri has received numerous complaints about AI characters stealing the jokes of stand-up comedians. Despite Meta's efforts to disclose AI-generated content and restrict AI-generated people on Instagram, identifying and policing this activity remains challenging due to imperfect AI identification technology, which can lead to false positives.

This often results in legitimate creators being incorrectly labeled as AI-generated, leading to frustration and anger. Mosseri also highlighted that Instagram currently treats AI-generated influencers the same as human influencers, which could potentially erode trust in the influencer economy as users grapple with a level playing field where virtual personalities have no costs, such as salaries or travel expenses.

Understanding public opinion on AI is crucial for Mosseri, given that young people's fear of being left behind drives much of the backlash. He hopes to embrace AI in ways that empower people, ensuring they don't feel left behind.