Meta launched its first AI image model since Meta-superintelligence laboratories Tuesday, its efforts to compete with companies like OpenAI GPT 2.0 Images and that of Google Nano Banana 2 in the race for AI image generation.
The new model, called Muse Image, rolled out with deep integrations built into the Instagram app. As part of this update, the public Instagram profiles are now automatically chosen to serve as a source for generative AI remixes. All someone has to do is tag your account profile in a prompt (if it’s public) and they can use Meta AI to generate an image of you.
Meta positions this feature as a bold way to personalize generations with images of real people. “Whether you want to design a custom event invitation, simulate a collaborative creative concept, or generate a custom graphic, tagging a username allows Meta AI to use public photos to create a post-ready visual,” reads one of Meta’s comments. announcement blogs about the new AI tool.
If you want to avoid these AI generations of your Instagram posts, without making your account private, you’ll have to dig into the app’s settings. Open the Instagram app, tap your profile, then press the three lines in the upper right corner of the screen. Then scroll down to Sharing and reuse tongue. Here is where you should see a section titled Allow people to consume your content on Instagram and with AI features on Metawith a rocker for Messages and one for Coils.
When I checked my personal account on Tuesday afternoon, the settings had not yet been updated to include this new language.
The Instagram Help Center site includes more details about the impact of this feature on users, saying that “people may be able to create content with your Instagram content using Meta’s AI features” if you leave your account public and with default settings. (A previously archived version of this page from 2025 does not include similar AI-focused language.)
Although making your account private or adjusting your settings will prevent additional images from being generated, already existing AI images created with your content will not be deleted.
It is also worth noting that Instagram users can remix your images using AI without your knowledge. “You will not be notified of content created using Meta’s AI features,” the company’s help page reads. Of the many aspects of this rollout that make me uncomfortable, not even getting a notification when someone does seems to be the biggest red flag of all.
Even though how often companies ask you to unsubscribe from AI trainingrather than registering, just like Google Search now stores media downloads, such as from reverse image searches, to train its AI. As the default option for consumers, this new option is worth turning off immediately if you want to avoid additional generations based on your Instagram photos and videos.
