Meta Integrates AI-Powered Editing Features into Instagram Stories

Meta is accelerating the integration of generative AI into its social platforms, announcing the direct rollout of AI-powered photo and video editing tools within Instagram Stories. The new feature allows users to instantly transform images and videos by simply typing a text prompt—such as “change hair color,” “add a crown,” or “insert a sunset background.” Unlike previous versions, where AI editing was only accessible through interactions with the Meta AI chatbot, this update embeds the functionality directly into the Stories interface. Users can now access it via the “Restyle” menu at the top of the screen, enabling real-time creative adjustments without leaving the app. In addition to custom prompts, Meta offers a range of preset styles to guide users’ edits, enhancing accessibility for those less familiar with AI terminology. However, Meta also reminds users that using the feature constitutes agreement to its AI service terms. This means that uploaded images and facial features may be analyzed and used to train or refine Meta’s AI models—effectively turning every edit into a potential data point for future improvements. This move marks a significant step in Meta’s broader strategy to compete with rivals like TikTok, Snapchat, and apps powered by OpenAI. The company is rapidly expanding its AI-driven creative ecosystem across Instagram and its Meta AI app. Recently, Meta introduced a “Write with Meta AI” feature that generates creative captions for posts, and last month launched “Vibes,” an AI-curated video feed delivering personalized short-form content created by artificial intelligence. According to Similarweb data, Meta AI’s daily active users surged from around 775,000 to over 2.7 million by October 17, representing a more than 300% increase in just a few months. To address growing concerns from parents and regulators about youth exposure to AI, Meta has also rolled out new parental controls. These tools allow guardians to disable AI interactions for teens and monitor the topics of conversations with Meta AI. As these features continue to roll out globally, Instagram is evolving beyond a traditional social network into a dynamic, AI-powered platform for creative expression and personalized content generation.