Goodbye Meta AI Take Control of Your Data, Protect Your Privacy

Meta AI, launched in September 2023 by Meta (formerly Facebook), is an artificial intelligence assistant that has since been deeply integrated into the search bars and feeds of Meta's apps, including Facebook and Instagram. Users can access AI features by clicking on a rainbow-colored circle icon within these apps. The assistant offers a range of functions, including text conversations, image generation, GIF creation, and real-time search capabilities. Powered by the advanced Llama 3 model, Meta AI provides personalized suggestions and returns search results from Google or Bing. While it boasts powerful features and high integration, the blending of AI and non-AI functions may confuse some users. To address this, Meta offers options to disable or ignore the AI features. Overall, Meta AI represents a significant step in social media platforms' evolution towards more intelligent and personalized services.

Meta has faced widespread criticism for using social media data to train AI without explicit user consent. Now, the company has decided to limit this practice to public posts from adults and allows users to opt out. Meta claims this move aims to create AI tools that reflect local culture and language, but many people are concerned about how their data will be used.

Privacy advocates, regulators, and many users are unsure if this change truly respects user rights. Although Meta has assured the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that it will comply with regulations, there are still concerns about the implications of mass data scraping.

For ordinary users, this means their public posts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram could be included in the vast datasets used to train Meta’s AI. This could affect how Meta develops AI features, personalizes content, and improves services. More importantly, it raises broader discussions about data rights, transparency, and whether users should have a greater say in how their content is used for AI purposes.

In the Facebook app, Meta AI is integrated into the search function and news feed, allowing users to perform regular searches, but they may encounter Meta AI results. Currently, there is no simple way to disable Meta AI, and Facebook's support page does not provide a solution.

Users can avoid interference by recognizing search results marked with the Meta AI logo. Additionally, group admins can disable Meta AI's automatic scraping in group settings: by entering the group, clicking the three dots in the upper right corner, selecting [Add Features] scrolling to Meta AI, and clicking Remove to stop its information gathering in the group.

On Instagram, the integration of Meta AI is less intrusive than on Facebook. It appears only when you click on the search bar, functioning similarly to its sister app. Search suggestions will include both traditional results and those marked with the iridescent Meta AI logo, while non-AI suggestions will feature a magnifying glass icon. Clicking on a Meta AI suggestion will open a chat, allowing you to rate or remove its responses.

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely disable Meta AI on Instagram, which can be frustrating, especially since users often search for practical queries like [how to peel an onion] or [how to cut an avocado] on this platform. For now, just pay attention to the icons next to your suggested searches to avoid the AI results.

On Messenger and WhatsApp, Meta AI has a minimal integration, appearing as just another contact in your chat list. Clicking on the conversation will open the chatbot, which remembers questions you've asked across other Meta-owned apps.

The only other integration is a small icon located either in the lower center or upper right corner of the screen, which also opens the chat with Meta AI, helpful if you've deleted your conversation. You can completely [remove] Meta AI by deleting the chat like any other; it will then vanish from your contacts list. While the small icon will remain in the app’s interface to allow starting a new conversation, the AI presence is otherwise unobtrusive.

1. Uninstall the current version of the Facebook app. Exit the app, then long-press the app icon on your device's home screen, select 'Info' or 'App Info,' and click 'Uninstall' to remove the current version.

2. Download an older APK. Visit a reliable APK source (such as APKPure), search for the Facebook APK file, and choose a version from late March or early April, which may have been released before the Meta AI feature. Download the selected APK file, then navigate to your device's downloads folder, locate the downloaded Facebook APK file, and click on it to start the installation. If prompted, allow installation from unknown sources in your device settings.

3. After the installation is complete, open the Facebook app and log into your account. Navigate to Messenger to confirm that Meta AI has been successfully removed.

4. As an extra precaution, disable automatic updates for Facebook in your device's app store settings to prevent accidental upgrades. Additionally, regularly check for any changes or new features.