Move over, selfies! The age of the AI doppelganger is here. Instagram, owned by Meta, is rolling out a brand new tool called AI Studio that allows anyone in the US to create an artificial intelligence version of themselves.

Here’s the gist: imagine a digital you that can chat with your followers, answer questions, and even respond to comments – all on your behalf. Creators and business owners can leverage these AI profiles to interact with their audience in a whole new way.

Think of it like having a tireless assistant who can engage with your followers directly in chat threads and comments on your Instagram account. Meta makes creating your AI persona a breeze. You can get started through their website or directly within the Instagram app by initiating a new “AI chat.”

The customization options are plentiful. You can tailor your AI’s responses based on your existing Instagram content, steer them clear of specific topics you don’t want them to discuss, and even pre-program links they can share with your followers.

But wait, there’s more! AI Studio isn’t just about replicating yourself. You can also unleash your inner creator and build entirely new AI characters from scratch. Think fictional companions, quirky mascots, or even educational bots – the possibilities are endless!

This move by Meta directly challenges startups like Character.AI and Replika, where users already interact with and even develop emotional connections with chatbots. Just like OpenAI‘s GPT marketplace, Meta plans to create a space where people can discover and interact with the AI characters created by others.

Remember the whole “celebrity AI” kerfuffle from a while back? Meta initially dipped its toes into this tech with a limited rollout where a select few celebrities created AI versions of themselves. However, these incarnations had different names and personalities. Why? Well, Meta was worried about these AI counterparts potentially saying things that could damage the celebrities’ reputations.

Fast forward to today, and it seems Meta acknowledges the potential pitfalls of this technology. They’ve implemented clear labeling for AI profiles wherever they appear. Additionally, they’ve created a detailed handbook for creators outlining the AI creation process. This handbook emphasizes the creator’s responsibility in defining topics their AI should avoid. Meta even throws out an example: an AI programmed to never answer questions about cryptocurrency investment – a wise decision indeed!