Meta has launched a new opt-in Facebook feature in North America that uses artificial intelligence to scan a user’s phone photo library. With explicit permission,a the tool analyzes personal media to create AI-generated content like collages and image edits for potential sharing.
This feature, which Meta tested earlier in 2024, is designed to help users find and utilize content within their own camera rolls. After a user grants access, the application scans the photo library and generates suggestions. For example, the AI might propose a collage compiling images from a recent vacation, assemble a visual recap of a graduation party, or apply automated enhancements to existing photographs. These creations are then presented to the user as shareable content.
Video: Meta
Regarding the use of personal media for model development, Meta has outlined specific conditions for its use. The company states it will not use a user’s camera roll media for AI training “unless you choose to edit this media with our AI tools, or share.” If an individual utilizes the platform’s AI editing functions on a photo or decides to share a suggested creation, that specific piece of media may then be incorporated into the data used to train Meta’s AI models.
The AI-generated suggestions are initially private and visible only to the account holder. The process for creating these ideas involves the application selecting and uploading media to the company’s servers. According to the feature’s permissions, Facebook will “select media from your camera roll and upload it to our cloud on an ongoing basis, based on info like time, location or themes.” Despite this data transfer, Meta has stated that the media uploaded for this purpose will not be utilized for ad targeting.
As an opt-in system, users must actively provide consent for the feature to function. Once enabled, the AI-generated suggestions appear in the user’s Stories and main Feed. A user who activates the function can later revoke access and disable it at any time through the camera roll settings within the Facebook app. The feature is currently available in the United States and Canada. Meta has also announced plans to begin testing it in additional countries following the North American rollout.
