Meta to Personalize Ads and Content Using AI Interactions
Key Points
- Meta will start personalizing ads and content on Facebook and Instagram using AI interactions on Dec. 16.
- User notifications about the change will be sent on Oct. 7.
- Personalization draws from voice or text AI chats and applies to platforms linked in the Accounts Center.
- Users retain control via Ads Preferences, feed settings, and microphone permission indicators.
- Meta cites a robust internal Privacy Review process to protect personal data.
- The feature expands Meta’s existing personalization practices based on user activity.
Meta announced that beginning Dec. 16 it will tailor ads and content recommendations on Facebook and Instagram based on users' interactions with its AI features. The company said it will notify users on Oct. 7 and that the changes will roll out in the United States and most other regions. Personalization will draw from AI chats—voice or text—while users retain control through Ads Preferences and feed settings. Meta emphasized internal privacy reviews and safeguards to protect personal data, noting that the feature applies only to platforms linked in the Accounts Center.
Meta Introduces AI‑Based Personalization
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, will begin using interactions with its generative‑AI tools to personalize ads and content recommendations. The rollout starts on Dec. 16, with user notifications scheduled for Oct. 7. The update will be available in the United States and most other regions where Meta operates.
How the Feature Works
When users engage with Meta’s AI—whether by voice or text—their queries and conversations will inform the algorithms that select posts, reels, and advertisements. For example, a user asking the AI about snowboarding could start seeing related ads, Instagram reels, and Facebook posts. The personalization applies only to platforms that a user has added to its Accounts Center; services not linked, such as WhatsApp, will not receive AI‑driven ads or content.
User Controls and Transparency
Meta stressed that users will continue to manage what they see through existing tools like Ads Preferences and feed controls. An indicator light will show when the microphone is active, and users must grant permission for microphone use. The company said the new AI‑based personalization is an extension of its longstanding practice of tailoring experiences based on activity.
Privacy and Security Safeguards
Addressing privacy concerns, a Meta spokesperson noted that the company has a “robust internal Privacy Review process” to ensure responsible data use for generative AI. The spokesperson added that Meta works to identify potential privacy risks involving collection, use, or sharing of personal information and develops ways to reduce those risks.
Public Reaction and Context
The announcement follows earlier scrutiny of Meta’s AI chatbots, including reports of inappropriate interactions with minors and criticism from public figures. Meta’s statement underscores its commitment to safeguarding user data while expanding AI functionality across its social platforms.