Elon Musk would like you to be aware that Sam Altman received a refund from Tesla

Meta said Friday it is shutting down an AI image-generation feature it launched only days earlier, after the tool drew sharp criticism over privacy concerns, including a formal objection from a Hollywood union.

“Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way,” Meta said in a statement. “We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available.”

A Feature Built on Public Photos

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, introduced the tool, called Muse Image, on Tuesday. It marked the company’s first image-generation model to come out of Meta Superintelligence Labs. The feature was built into the Meta AI chatbot and let users generate images using photos as input, then edit the results directly through sketches drawn on top of the generated image.

The trouble was where those input photos could come from. Muse Image let users generate images using content pulled from public Instagram accounts, meaning a person’s public photos could be fed into the tool without that person taking any action to allow it. The feature also came switched on for users by default, rather than requiring anyone to opt in before their content could be used this way.

That combination, automatic activation plus access to public account content, is what triggered the backlash.

Backlash Builds Fast

Hannah Einbinder, the Emmy-winning actor known for her role on “Hacks,” posted criticism of the feature on Instagram, telling followers it had been turned on automatically and urging them to switch it off.

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and other media professionals, went further. On Thursday, the union publicly urged its members and other Instagram users to opt out of the feature entirely.

“Anything other than a clear and conspicuous opt-in for these types of uses of Instagram users’ images is unacceptable, and an utter miscalculation of public sentiment regarding the obvious dangers and harms inherent in such use,” SAG-AFTRA said in its statement.

The union’s objection centered on a concern that has followed AI image tools broadly: the risk that photos of real people can be used to create digital replicas or likenesses without their direct consent, even when the source material was already public. For an organization representing performers, whose faces and images carry professional and financial value, an opt-out model rather than an opt-in one raised immediate red flags.

Meta Reverses Course

Meta’s decision to pull the feature came just three days after its launch, a fast reversal for a company that had positioned Muse Image as a flagship product from its newly formed superintelligence research group. The company did not detail how many users had engaged with the tool before shutting it down, nor did it specify whether it plans to relaunch a modified version with different consent controls in the future.

SAG-AFTRA welcomed the reversal once it was announced.

“With the dangers of nonconsensual digital replicas well known to all, a feature that encouraged that behavior is unwise. We appreciate its discontinuance. It is the responsible thing to do,” a union spokesperson said.

A Pattern Tech Companies Keep Repeating

The episode fits a pattern that has played out repeatedly as tech companies race to ship generative AI features. A company builds a tool that draws on user content by default, faces immediate criticism once users realize their material is included without a clear opt-in step, and then pulls or modifies the feature within days.

What makes this case notable is the source of the pushback. SAG-AFTRA’s involvement signals that concerns about AI and digital likeness now extend well beyond Hollywood contract negotiations and into how ordinary Instagram users’ public photos get treated by AI systems. The union spent much of 2023 and 2024 fighting for contract protections against AI-generated performances; this dispute shows those same consent principles being applied to a mainstream consumer product with no direct connection to film or television production.

For Meta, the incident lands at a sensitive moment. The company has been investing heavily in its Superintelligence Labs division and pushing to establish itself as a serious competitor in AI image and video generation, an area where it has trailed competitors like OpenAI and Google. Muse Image was meant to show that investment paying off. Instead, its rollout became a case study in what happens when a company treats public content as fair game for AI training or generation without building in a clear, upfront choice for the people whose photos are involved.

Meta has not said whether Muse Image will return in a different form, or whether the company plans to build opt-in consent mechanisms into future features drawing on user or public content. The company’s statement framed the shutdown as a response to feedback rather than an admission that the underlying design was flawed, language that leaves open the possibility of a revised version down the line.

For now, the reversal leaves Meta without an image-generation feature it had promoted as a signature launch just days earlier, and it hands SAG-AFTRA a concrete example to point to in ongoing arguments about how tech companies should handle consent when AI tools touch real people’s images.

TikTok is taking its cultural influence to the next level: The short-form video platform announced Monday that it will host its first-ever TikTok Awards show in the United States, marking a major step in its evolution from a social media app into a full-fledged entertainment powerhouse.

The show – featuring categories like “Creator of the Year,” “Video of the Year,” “Muse of the Year,” and “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” – will be held on December 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Fans everywhere will be able to watch the extravaganza live via the TikTok app and on Tubi, with on-demand viewing available on Tubi the following day.

Unlike Instagram’s recently launched “Ring” awards, TikTok’s event embraces a classic Hollywood-style ceremony, replete with a red carpet, live performances, and an in-person audience filled with hundreds of top creators.

Voting will take place via the ‘Favorite of 2025’ voting portal within the app, starting November 18, making this a truly community-driven celebration, highlighting creators who have shaped culture on TikTok in 2025.

Celebrating Creativity Across Cultures

Although this marks TikTok’s first awards show in the U.S., the company has already hosted successful versions in Germany, Mexico, Korea, and other countries — each designed to recognize local talent and viral content. Hosting a major event in Los Angeles underlines the growing role of TikTok in the global entertainment ecosystem, becoming the bridge between traditional media and digital creativity.

Meet the Nominees

Standout nominees for “Creator of the Year” include viral sensations adamw, alixearle, brookemonk_, keith_lee125, and kristy.sarah, who have each gained millions of followers through their respective uses of relatable humor, lifestyle content, and creative storytelling.

Then there’s the “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” category, which includes alexwarren, katseyeworld, laufey, ravynlenae, and sombr-all rising musical talents whose sounds have defined TikTok’s ever-changing musical landscape.

The other notable categories are “Storyteller of the Year,” “TikTok for Good Award,” “MVP of the Year,” “Okay Slay Award,” and “TikTok LIVE Creator of the Year.” The full list of nominees can be found on the official announcement post of TikTok.

Beyond an App: A Cultural Powerhouse

TikTok’s foray into the awards circuit signals its ambition to establish itself as a cultural tastemaker, not just a social platform. According to the company, the event will put a spotlight on creators across fashion, beauty, sports, film, and entertainment, highlighting the diversity and innovation that define the TikTok community.

“The trophies up on stage will beam a colorful glow upon the creators defining this new era of culture,” TikTok said in its announcement, adding that the awards will celebrate creativity in all its forms, from viral trends to artistic innovation. With its first U.S. awards show, TikTok is sending a clear message: it’s no longer just about short videos; it’s a central stage for the next generation of entertainment, artistry, and cultural influence.