Meta Rejects AI Skepticism: 'We're Betting on People'

Instagram Head Adam Mosseri released a video statement defending artificial intelligence as a tool for human connection, rejecting what he called 'pervasive scepticism' about AI's role on social platforms.

In the Instagram video, Mosseri has portrayed the growth of Meta’s use of AI in line with its 22-year-old vision of connecting people, indicating that Meta is in a defensive position owing to increasing criticisms regarding the impact of the platform on teen mental wellbeing and information division.

"Some people will have you believe AI will make us less connected," Mosseri said in the video. "We couldn't disagree more."

"We bet on people when we connected you to the ones you lost touch with. And again when we connected you to the ones you couldn't be near. 22 years and 3.5 billion people later, we're doubling down."

The fact about 3.5 billion users helps to illustrate the company's argument about the scale, where the company sees itself as the main connection infrastructure for humanity. Mosseri saw the development of AI technology as the continuation of this vision.

"While technology will change, our intention behind it never will," Mosseri stated. He closed with a direct challenge to scepticism: "Call us optimists. Call us dreamers. Call us whatever the hell you want. But we're betting on people. And we like those odds."

On the other hand, however, it has been observed lately that there is a connection between the use of Instagram and cases of depression, anxiety, and bad body image among teens. Meta has received a lot of criticism on the basis of its controversial algorithm.

Mosseri's caption reinforced the framing: "Our mission at Instagram is to inspire creativity that brings people together. I believe in a future where AI expands what people can do—and I hope Instagram can be a small part of building it."