A screenshot from @hiamaliv’s Instagram (Meta)

Meta’s fake AI users are here and they’re giving everybody the creeps

The platform’s actual users are weirded out by posts documenting a fake life and fake kids.

1/3/25 11:20AM

After spending tens of billions of dollars cramming generative AI into pretty much all its products, Meta is trying to juice engagement on its platforms by creating fake AI users, posting AI-generated images of their fake lives, doing fake things.

Meet Liv, one such fake Instagram user whose profile identifies the character as a “proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller ❤️🌈. Your realest source for life’s ups & downs. Let’s chat (available in the US).”

Liv’s profile page clearly says “AI managed by Meta,” with a link to a pop-up that says, “AI character profiles are managed by Meta. Content posted may be generated by both humans and AI tools. To chat with the AI directly, use Instagram Direct.” But Liv’s posts describe her imaginary life and her imaginary children. Last January, Liv wrote:

“This year’s #WinterWonderland dance was a success!!! ❄️ Our PTA team has been planning for months and spent the last week prepping decorations, making snacks and drinks, and picking out songs for the playlist. Y’all might have even spotted Momma Liv & Rachel on the dance floor once or twice. 👀😂 #ImaginedWithAI”

Meta fake AI user - winter wonderland — (Meta/@himamaliv)

Liv also writes about her imaginary good deeds:

“Kicking off the new year in service of our community. 🤝 Leading this season’s coat drive was an honor, especially because it provided my little ones a tangible example for helping others. 👏🏾🧥#ImaginedWithAI”

Screenshot 2025-01-03 at 10.18.20 AM — (Meta/@himamaliv)

While Liv’s account shows that these posts are over a year old, Meta just recently started talking about their plans for such fake users.

Connor Hayes, Meta’s VP of product for generative AI, told the Financial Times last week:

“We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do. They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform... That’s where we see all of this going.”

A look through recent comments on Liv’s posts might give Meta pause as users have some strong feelings about these inauthentic posts: “This is so f---ing dystopian” and “This might be what pushes me off of @instagram entirely. A fake person patting itself on its fake back with a fake story about a fake coat drive for a fake charity” are among the many negative comments.

Meta already has an AI slop problem on Facebook, as content farms pump out a torrent of weird AI-generated garbage that fools some real users. While a close look at Liv’s profile clearly shows she is fake and run by Meta, not all of Liv’s posts are clearly labeled, and may fool some users. In a post from December 2023, Liv posted a video of two children walking up steps to a school, with an inspirational Michelle Obama quote. The post did not indicate that it was generated with AI or that Liv was a fake user.

“As the first half of the school year winds down, I’m throwing it back to the kiddos’ first day of school! Feeling so proud watching them blossom into their truest selves, day by day. ✊🏾💕 #ProudMom #Authenticity #InspoQuotes”

Screenshot 2025-01-03 at 10.24.15 AM — (Meta/@himamaliv)

Rani Molla43m

SpaceX is actually considering a merger with Tesla or xAI: Report

Bloomberg reports that Elon Musk’s SpaceX is considering merging with Musk’s Tesla. Earlier today, Reuters had reported that SpaceX was thinking of potentially merging with xAI ahead of SpaceX’s IPO this year.

From Bloomberg:

“The firm has discussed the feasibility of a tie-up between SpaceX and Tesla, an idea that some investors are pushing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. Separately, they are also exploring a tie-up between SpaceX and xAI ahead of an IPO, some of the people said.”

Musk’s companies already have numerous relationships between themselves, including most recently Tesla’s $2 billion investment in xAI. At Tesla’s shareholder meeting last year, shareholders voted to invest in the company but the board didn’t approve the measure due to significant abstentions.

In 2024, SpaceX incurred about $2.4 million in expenses under commercial, licensing, and support agreements with Tesla, and Tesla incurred about $800,000 in expenses for Musk’s use of SpaceX’s jet.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Is Said to Consider Merger With Tesla or xAI

From Bloomberg:

“The firm has discussed the feasibility of a tie-up between SpaceX and Tesla, an idea that some investors are pushing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. Separately, they are also exploring a tie-up between SpaceX and xAI ahead of an IPO, some of the people said.”

Rani Molla

APPLE OF MY AI

Apple posts record quarterly revenue and iPhone sales

But all eyes will be on margins and AI.

Rani Molla2h

WSJ: Amazon considering $50 billion investment in OpenAI

What a difference half a day makes. Earlier today, The Information reported that Amazon was considering investing roughly $10 billion to $20 billion in OpenAI as part of a $60 billion fundraising round alongside Nvidia and Microsoft. Now The Wall Street Journal is reporting the e-commerce giant could invest up to $50 billion in the ChatGPT maker as part of a larger, $100 billion funding round. The Financial Times also earlier reported today a $100 billion funding round but with smaller amounts from Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Exclusive | Amazon in Talks to Invest Up to $50 Billion in OpenAI

Rani Molla4h

Elon Musk’s SpaceX reportedly in talks to merge with xAI

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is reportedly exploring a merger between SpaceX and his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, a move that would bundle rockets, satellites, the social media site X, and AI under one company ahead of SpaceX’s long-anticipated IPO.

According to Reuters reporting, the deal would swap xAI shares for SpaceX stock, potentially valuing the combined operation north of $1 trillion.

Reuters reports:

“Two entities have been set up in Nevada to facilitate the transaction, the person said.

Reuters could not determine the value of the deal, its ‌primary rationale, or its potential timing.

Corporate filings in Nevada show that those entities were set up on January 21. One of them, a limited liability company, lists SpaceX and Bret Johnsen, the company’s chief financial officer, as managing members, while the other lists Johnsen as the company’s only officer, the filings show.”

The combined companies could also set the narrative groundwork for putting data centers in space — an idea that Musk and a number of other tech billionaires have been floating lately but that may not get off the ground.

In its earnings filings yesterday, Tesla disclosed that it recently made a $2 billion investment in xAI. Last year, Musk’s xAI bought Musk’s X in an all-stock deal.

Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX in merger talks with xAI ahead of planned IPO, source says

Reuters reports:

“Two entities have been set up in Nevada to facilitate the transaction, the person said.

Reuters could not determine the value of the deal, its ‌primary rationale, or its potential timing.

Corporate filings in Nevada show that those entities were set up on January 21. One of them, a limited liability company, lists SpaceX and Bret Johnsen, the company’s chief financial officer, as managing members, while the other lists Johnsen as the company’s only officer, the filings show.”

In its earnings filings yesterday, Tesla disclosed that it recently made a $2 billion investment in xAI. Last year, Musk’s xAI bought Musk’s X in an all-stock deal.

Translating Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Translating Nadella’s jargon to understand his strategy for meeting intense demand for AI computing.

Jon Keegan5h