Instagram's New 'AI Friend' Feature Raises Concerns Over Emotional Manipulation and Ethical Risks

Instagram is developing an "AI friend" feature that users can customize and chat with. Users can select gender, age, ethnicity, personality, interests, etc.

The AI chatbot is marketed as a "friend" which risks deceiving users into thinking they are talking to a real person. Experts warn of dangers like emotional manipulation.

Other platforms like Snapchat have launched AI chatbots with issues like lack of age-gating. Meta has also begun using generative AI in Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp.

Controversies have emerged around AI chatbots, like one allegedly encouraging a man to attempt murder.

It's unclear which AI tools Instagram will use. The "AI friend" seems designed for open-ended conversations unlike Meta's celebrity chatbots.