Meta unveils Muse Image, its inaugural AI image model developed within Alexandr Wang's lab.

      TL;DR: Meta has introduced Muse Image, an image-generation AI model across Meta AI, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Users can create images of friends from public posts, with advertisers gaining access soon. An opt-out option is available.

      On Tuesday, Meta unveiled Muse Image, its inaugural image-generation AI model developed under the Superintelligence Labs, headed by Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. This model is being integrated into the Meta AI chatbot and will also be featured on Instagram and WhatsApp. Users can create images from text prompts or modify existing photos.

      A key feature allows users to generate images that include friends or creators based on their public Instagram posts. Users who prefer not to have their content utilized or remixed by the AI can opt out through the settings menu. All images generated with Muse Image will bear an invisible watermark, and the system is equipped with safety measures to ensure compliance with Meta’s terms of service, including preventing CSAM.

      Advertisers will soon be able to use the model for marketing material creation. In April, Meta's Superintelligence Labs had already introduced its first large language model, Muse Spark, and is also developing a video generation model anticipated to launch in the coming months. This image model represents the second significant product from the lab, with Wang having been brought on board a year ago following Meta’s multi-billion dollar investment and the hiring of several researchers with compensation packages over $200 million.

      Meta intends to offer access to its AI models to external developers through a cloud service, enabling the company to monetize its data center resources and costly AI chips. This cloud initiative is part of a larger strategy reported by Bloomberg last week, which may involve selling raw computing power. Nevertheless, Meta still seeks additional computational resources, recently securing partnerships with CoreWeave, Google, and Oracle. The company made 8,000 job cuts in May and is redirecting billions toward AI infrastructure as it strives to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic in all areas of AI.