Meta Releases Clues on How AI is Used on Facebook and Instagram
In response to the increasing demand for transparency in artificial intelligence, Meta has unveiled a range of tools and information designed to help users understand how AI influences the content they see on its apps.
The social media giant has introduced nearly two dozen explainers that focus on various features of its platforms, including Instagram Stories and Facebook’s news feed, providing insights into how Meta selects and recommends content to users.
These disclosures come as legislation around the world is being developed to enforce concrete disclosure requirements for companies that employ AI technology.
Meta’s “system cards” cover various aspects, such as the selection of recommended follows on Facebook and Instagram, the functionality of search tools, and how notifications operate.
For instance, the system card dedicated to Instagram’s search function explains how the app gathers relevant search results based on user queries, scores each result according to the user’s past interactions, applies additional filters and integrity processes to refine the list, and finally presents it to the user.
Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, links these new disclosures to the global debate surrounding the potential risks of artificial intelligence, including misinformation propagation and the rise of AI-enabled fraud and scams. Clegg emphasizes the importance of openness as a response to these concerns.
In addition to the explainers, Meta has released new tools that allow users to customize the company’s algorithms. Users can now instruct Instagram to show more of a certain type of content, expanding the previous capability to show less.
Meta is also introducing menu options from individual posts, enabling users to further personalize their feeds on both Facebook and Instagram.
Furthermore, Meta is facilitating research on its platforms by providing a content library and an application programming interface (API) featuring a wide range of content from Facebook and Instagram.
Meta’s announcement aligns with the swift progress of European lawmakers in drafting legislation that will introduce new explanation and transparency requirements for companies utilizing AI.
US lawmakers have also expressed their intention to develop similar legislation later this year.
