The future of Facebook could be looking very different, and while you might currently use it to wish Aunt Mabel in Australia a happy birthday, you could soon be talking to an artificial intelligence version of your relative.
Meta might’ve struggled with its Metaverse, but alongside keeping invested in the idea, Mark Zuckerberg seems destined to push AI onto us all.
The next two years will apparently involve Meta transitioning ‘hundreds of thousands’ of AI creations onto Facebook, allowing users to create chatbot clones of themselves or whole new online personas.
There are already complaints Zuckerberg is helping fuel the ‘Dead Internet Theory’ that the internet has been deceased since as early as 2016 and is now simply computers talking to computers.
The future of Meta could be ‘flooded’ with AI ( Chesnot / Contributor / Getty)
There’s an even more vocal corner of real-life users who are vowing to shut up shop on Facebook. If this is the case, will robots be left to inherit whatever is left of the social media platform?
When news of Meta’s AI push was shared on r/Futurology subreddit, there was a less-than-welcome reception. One disgruntled Facebook user simply wrote, “Just the nudge I need to delete my Facebook.”
Another added: “I haven’t even been on in years. Almost 10 years. I’ve decided to just fully delete the account after I download my pictures.”
A third chimed in: “Translation: ‘Our real users are quitting the platform, so we will fill our community with fake users instead.”
Looking at the bigger picture of where they feel things are heading, someone concluded: “I hate what they did to Facebook. It was perfect to start with – a fun little way of keeping up with what your friends were doing; status updates and the odd photo they’d taken.
“People made joke profiles for their pets and well-known fictional characters. The whole thing was very chilled.
“Unfortunately they had to turn it into a gigantic money-making machine – so joke profiles were purged, and in came adverts, corporate profiles, news, propaganda, AI drivel; anything to drive engagement, whether good or bad. Obviously that was the plan all along, but it sucks.”
Aside from spending our days interacting with bots instead of real people, others suggested that advertisers won’t be able to tell the difference between real engagement and bot engagement, suggesting it’s a sneaky way of driving up clicks and ad revenue.
Meta’s rules state that any AI-generated content has to be labeled clearly on all platforms, but there’s no word on whether this will continue to be the case.
The thread was full of examples where images are presented as real-life (often to push political agendas) but are clearly created with AI. With this, there are accusations that misinformation is already being spread before we even open the floodgates to wholly AI accounts.
Highlighting other problems, many on Reddit said they’ve already given up on Facebook amid claims that their feed is made up of ‘AI slop’, pages that aren’t relevant to them, and adverts.
Meta is standing strong by its AI commitment for now, but only time will tell whether this gamble pays off.
The future of Facebook (well, Meta) is here.
That’s right, the social media platform is making its biggest push into artificial intelligence yet.
Instagram and Facebook are said to be opening the floodgates to AI-controlled accounts in a bid to connect with younger generations.
Yes, we apparently can’t be trusted to talk to actual human beings anymore.
While the likes of Snapchat and TikTok are already cashing in on the AI boom, the older platforms are lagging…until now.
In July 2024, Meta launched its AI Studio tool that allows users to make their own chatbots that could make a copy of themselves or create an artificial persona online.
You might not have noticed, but they’re already lurking among us, with ‘hundreds of thousands’ of characters apparently already being created.
Meta wants to make a push toward AI personas over the next two years (Teera Konakan / Getty)
The priority for the next two years is to make Meta’s apps ‘more entertaining and engaging’. Meta already lets AI answer questions from someone’s followers, but the next step involves text-to-video generation software that will put those same creators into AI-generated videos.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Connor Hayes, vice president of product for generative AI at Meta, explained, “We expect these AIs to actually exist on our platforms in the same way that [human] accounts do.”
Hyping this influx of AI beings, Hayes continued: “They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform…that’s where we see all of this going.” Although Hayes says these AI creations have been kept private for now, they’re being encouraged to unleash them onto the World Wide Web.
With this, there are obvious concerns that the Dead Internet Theory’ is more alive than ever. We recently shared worries that the Dead Internet Theory was being pushed through by AI, and this does nothing to help the argument that the internet isjust computers talking to computers.
Even for those who aren’t creating AI accounts to make Facebook look more populated than it really is, the FT’s report claims that the majority of creators are already using AI to enhance their real-world content.
Mark Zuckerberg continues looking to an AI future (Bloomberg / Contributor / Getty)
The race is on to capitalize on generative AI as quickly as possible. In September 2024, Snapchat’s generative AI tools were rolled out to help creators earn revenue from designing characters for augmented reality experiences.
TikTok wasn’t far behind with a whole suite of tools known as Symphony. The trial allows brands and creators to advertise with AI, translate content into different languages, and use AI-generated avatars.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously showed off an AI avatar that was able to host video calls and subdued concerns by reassuring users that they could install protocols to avoid discussing certain topics.
Becky Owen, global chief marketing and innovation officer at creative agency Billion Dollar Boy, warned of the dangers of ‘AI slop’, saying: “Without robust safeguards, platforms risk amplifying false narratives through these AI-driven accounts.”
Remembering the tragic case of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III who took his own life after becoming infatuated with a chatbot, it’s only fair that the concerns of an AI-powered Facebook are addressed.
As Owen concludes: “Unlike human creators, these AI personas don’t have lived experiences, emotions, or the same capacity for relatability.”
Mark Zuckerberg has addressed rumours of a huge ‘doomsday bunker’ supposedly hidden below his $270,000,000 compound.
Speculations had swirled around social media that the Facebook co-founder had installed a 5,000 square foot bunker underneath his home in Hawaii.
With Zuckerberg being the third richest person on Earth, many shared how they weren’t exactly surprised that someone with so much wealth would build a bunker.
Mark Zuckerberg is building a huge home in Hawaii (YouTube/@business)
On Reddit, one user wrote: “I would too if I was him. You know why? Because unlike the rest of us, he can afford to do this and be wrong. So the world doesn’t go to s***, big deal, you spent a small percentage of your fortune. But if it does, you’ll be fine while the rest of us fight over toilet paper.”
Another said: “Let’s be f***ing honest. Every rich billionaire in the world already has a bunker and fully prepped for the society to end. Zucks in the only idiot who did it in Hawaii and got caught.”
And a third person joked: “Maybe he’s just a really big Lost fan and he’s recreating Desmond’s bunker.”
However, while Zuckerberg has since addressed these rumors, he didn’t completely dismiss them.
Instead, he said that the building work was more of a ‘little shelter’ rather than a doomsday bunker.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the Meta boss explained what he is building underneath his 1,400 acre home in Kauai.
It is rumored that the Meta boss is building a doomsday bunker (keithbwinn/Getty Images)
He said: “No, I think that’s just like a little shelter. It’s like a basement.”
Zuckerberg has an enormous net worth of around $215 billion and last year, it was revealed that he was in the process of building a compound.
This included an underground shelter and over a dozen buildings with around 30 bedrooms and bathrooms.
There will reportedly be two mansions that are connected by a tunnel that can also take them to the underground shelter.
The compound produces its own food with cattle, horses, a nursery, an organic ginger farm and a nearby turmeric farm.
It even has its own water supply with a water tank and a pump system, according to planning documents obtained by WIRED.
Local journalist Allan Parachini wrote a critical op-ed about Zuckerberg in 2016 for the Garden Island where he criticized the tech mogul’s decision to erect ‘a rock wall in front of his 700-acre oceanfront property’.
He encouraged locals to ‘tell Zuckerberg that abusing his stewardship of public beaches as if we are just another batch of Facebook victims is unacceptable’.
Mark Zuckberg hasn’t always been recognised for his lavish fashion sense.
The Meta CEO was known to sport the same gray t-shirt day in and day out. Even with the abundance of millions to splash out on any clothes he sees fit.
Likely, as Zuckerberg instead prefers to set aside those millions for a 7ft tall statue of his wife instead. As you do.
This year the CEO had a glow-up, being photographed in designer jackets and eyeing up equally expensive watches.
However, now a brand-new shirt worn by Zuckerberg has caught everyone’s attention.
During Meta’s annual Connect event, Zuckberg wore the custom-made shirt. While delivering the keynote for the event, held on September 25th, Zuckerberg can be seen wearing an over-sized black shirt with gray writing.
Instead of being a flashy designer item, the shirt featured the words ‘Aut Zuck aut nihil’ in latin across the chest.
If your latin is a little rusty, don’t worry. The ominous text translates to “either a Ceaser or nothing.”
Meta
As you can probably guess, the latin phrase is not actually written by Zuckerberg. Instead, according to award winning author Sophie Swerts Knudsen, it was coined by Julias Ceaser, and refers to the “desire to succeed at all cost.”
While he didn’t write the classical saying, Zuckerberg did design the shirt himself. Speaking in a Fall 2024 interview with the Acquired podcast, the CEO explained that he started working with others to design his own clothes.
“I figured, you know, look, we’re going to design eyewear, we’re going to design other stuff that people wear – lets get good at this.”
With the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses already under his belt, a clothing line isn’t too far-fetched.
Zuckerberg went on to explain, that this new delve into clothing is part of a fashion line based on his favourite classical sayings. Previously, he was seen wearing a shirt with the phrase “Carthage Delenda Est.”
Spotted during a photoshoot shared on his Instagram for his 40th birthday, this classical phrase is another reference to the Roman Empire. This time around, the saying translates to “I believe Carthage must be destroyed.”
This shirt features the phrase in a gothic text, looking not too dissimilar to something out of Hot Topic.
Mark Zuckerberg
As reported by TechCrunch, the saying refers to the the call for Rome to attack Carthage during the Punic Wars.
The Meta mogul hasn’t shared the common denominator between the designs. Outside his love for classical sayings anyway.
However, it could be Zuckerberg feels some connection between himself and the battles faced by some of histories biggest empires. Especially as a modern historical figure in the world of tech.
If you want to grab one these shirts for yourself, you’re out of luck. For now, Zuckerberg has made no indication these will be available for the general Meta-loving public.
Although Nostradamus was a French astrologer and seer who made predictions up until the year 3797, he was later outdone by the Bulgarian mystic who took her own prophecies until the (supposed) end of days in 5079.
Despite 2025 only just getting off the ground, Nostradamus predicted a deadly war in Europe, disaster in the Amazon, and even an Earth-destroying asteroid all coming our way this year. Baba Vanga was slightly more cheery, and even though she doesn’t think we’ll kick the bucket in 2025, she similarly foresaw a massive European war, the ability to harness telepathy, and even contact with aliens.
When The Sun asked ChatGPT about Nostradamus and Baba Vanga’s predictions, these virtual versions of the long-dead mystics had their own thoughts.
Could the Russia-Ukraine war finally be coming to an end in 2025? (TETIANA DZHAFAROVA / Contributor / Getty)
As for the actual Baba Vanga’s prediction of a European war that will ‘devastate’ the continent, AI Baba Vanga thinks the Russian-Ukranian war will continue to bubble over – possibly hitting a turning point in the middle of the year when the latter launches a large-scale attack.
Baba Vanga also suggested that aliens making contact will coincide with a ‘major’ sporting event, which some think could be linked to her prediction that Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari will see him overtake Michael Schumacher and earn his eighth title in 2025.
AI Baba keeps it more vague, claiming that the England football team will win a major international football tournament (possibly the UEFA Nations League) but makes no mention of little green dudes.
In terms of her looking into the future of lab-grown organs and human telepathy in 2025, her AI counterpart hasn’t marked either of them in the diary for this year. Could the real Baba Vanga have missed the mark on this one?
AI Baba also has some interesting thoughts on politics and the Royal Family, which is something the human version didn’t. 2025 will apparently see King Charles III downsize the royal estate, a health scare for Donald Trump, and more criticism than ever for UK leader Keir Starmer.
Nostradamus predicted a deadly plague in the United Kingdom (duncan1890 / Getty)
Over to Nostradamus, his predictions of a clash between ‘great powers’ and the rise of ‘new world powers’ are about as vague as you can get. With the continued threat of nuclear war, AI Nostradamus says there will be ‘intensifying cyber-operations’ alongside the worrying mention of ‘silent wars’ that use technology.
The real one warned of both a war AND a plague in the United Kingdom, but thankfully for those in the UK, his AI brother is a little more optimistic: “Through flame and agony, a remedy shall rise to confront a disease that has haunted humanity for long.
“An ailment of stealth, elusive and silent, known by its weakening of the body’s own forces – watch as breakthroughs in 2025 give new hope.”
Still, AI Nostradamus warned: “Calls for change may grow louder as economic and social pressures mount.
“Bringing the potential for an early election or leadership challenge.”
As for the big one of Nostradamus’ prediction for the end of the world in 2025 via a ‘harbinger of fate’ asteroid, should we be concerned that AI Nostradamus has reported the return of a ‘long-forgotten celestial body’? Not to sound all doom and gloom, but maybe don’t go booking that big summer holiday just yet!
