EU Commission initiates proceedings against Meta

Facebook’s New AI Mode Taps Public Data Across Meta’s Apps

Meta is bringing a bigger dose of artificial intelligence to Facebook as it works to make the platform more useful, more interactive, and more competitive in the fast-moving AI space. The company has announced a new wave of AI-powered features designed to improve search, help users create more eye-catching content, and encourage people to spend more time inside the app.

The biggest addition is AI Mode, a new Facebook search experience powered by Meta AI. Instead of typing a query and scrolling through a long list of posts, users can ask questions in natural language and receive a summarized answer based on public content across Facebook. That includes posts from Groups, Reels, and other public areas of the platform.

In practice, AI Mode could make Facebook feel less like a traditional social network and more like an answer engine built around real conversations. For example, someone looking for travel tips, product recommendations, parenting advice, local restaurant suggestions, or fitness ideas may be able to ask a question and get a direct response based on what people are already posting and discussing.

Meta has also been testing a similar concept through Forum, its discussion-focused app with a dedicated AI Ask feature. That tool allows users to submit questions and receive answers generated from conversations happening in Facebook Groups.

While this could make finding information faster, it also brings up an important concern: accuracy. Since these AI-generated answers are based on public posts and community discussions, the information may not always be reliable, current, or verified. User-generated content can be helpful, but it can also include personal opinions, outdated advice, or incorrect claims. As AI search becomes more common across major platforms, the challenge will be ensuring that convenience does not come at the expense of trust.

Facebook is not only using AI to improve search. The platform is also rolling out new creative tools aimed at making posts, Stories, and profile updates more fun and personalized.

One of the new features lets users enhance video montages with collage cutouts and transition effects. These tools are designed to make short-form content more visually appealing without requiring advanced editing skills.

Another addition is AI-powered photo presets. With these, users can change their appearance in images by trying on different outfits, hairstyles, and accessories. Sports fans, for example, can virtually dress in their favorite team’s jersey using AI editing tools in Stories. Users can also refresh their profile photo by choosing AI restyling options that focus on wardrobe and appearance changes.

These updates are part of a broader push by Meta to weave artificial intelligence into everyday Facebook activity. Earlier this year, the company introduced animated profile pictures that can bring still images to life with small movements, such as a wave, or add playful elements like a party hat. It also added AI assistance to Facebook Marketplace, allowing sellers to automatically respond to buyer messages.

More recently, Facebook introduced an AI assistant for creators. This tool provides personalized recommendations based on a creator’s content and performance history. It can suggest better posting times, summarize audience reactions in the comments, and help creators understand what their followers are engaging with most.

Together, these new Facebook AI features show Meta’s larger strategy. The company wants AI to become a core part of how people search, create, sell, and communicate across its apps. By making Facebook more helpful and easier to use, Meta hopes to increase engagement and keep users returning more often.

The company is also exploring new ways to generate revenue from AI-powered tools. Meta has already introduced paid subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in some markets, with prices starting at $3.99 per month. These subscriptions unlock extra features, and more AI-focused paid options may be added in the future.

For Facebook users, the latest updates could make the platform feel more modern and interactive. AI Mode may change how people search for advice and recommendations, while AI editing tools could make content creation quicker and more entertaining. However, as Facebook leans more heavily on AI-generated answers from public posts, users will still need to think carefully about the reliability of the information they receive.

Meta’s message is clear: Facebook is no longer just a place to scroll through updates from friends and groups. It is becoming an AI-powered platform for discovery, creativity, and personalized digital experiences.