Instagram Chief Predicts Rising Public Frustration With Artificial Intelligence

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, stated that public frustration with artificial intelligence will intensify over the next couple of years. He made the prediction while appearing on the Colin and Samir podcast to discuss the platform's new features for widescreen and long-form video. Mosseri acknowledged that a growing segment of the population dislikes AI, a sentiment that extends well beyond young people and creative professionals.

The executive described the current mood as a trend of increasing anxiety, frustration, and anger. He noted that some of this dissatisfaction is justified while other parts are not. According to Mosseri, this rising tension will make the environment difficult for many individuals, not just those working within the technology industry. He identified the underlying cause of these worries as a fundamental fear of being left behind.

Mosseri also addressed how Instagram handles AI-generated content. He stated that the platform does not rank AI creators differently from human creators. However, he questioned whether the current ranking system adequately distinguishes between high-quality AI output and what he termed AI slop. He admitted that the algorithm probably does not rank AI content as well as it ranks non-AI content. Mosseri said the term slop is used too liberally, a phrase he previously mentioned in a New Year's update.

The platform has taken steps to manage AI presence since earlier this year. In August, Instagram began enforcing stricter rules on AI-generated profiles after introducing labels for such accounts in the spring. Despite these measures, misleading AI content, including celebrity deepfakes, remains a persistent issue. Mosseri said the company is actively determining its next steps regarding AI fakes but argued that banning all AI content from the platform is not a practical solution.

Instagram is now requiring AI accounts to label their content. Mosseri explained that this requirement helps users determine whether what they are viewing is real or synthetic. He listed several specific concerns held by users and creators, including ownership of content, the training of models on user data, safety, and job displacement. He noted that these fears apply to various professions, from content creators to engineers and mathematicians.

The interview took place as Instagram rolled out its new video formats. Mosseri’s comments come at a time when public discourse around AI has become increasingly visible, with recent examples including college students booing technology executives at graduation ceremonies. The Instagram head did not announce new policy changes during the interview but confirmed that the team is monitoring the evolving public reaction closely.