Facebook adds new AI features, animated profile photos, and backgrounds for text posts
Source: TechCrunch
New AI-Powered Features on Facebook
Facebook announced new AI-powered features designed to let users express themselves in more playful ways across the platform. The updates include animated profile pictures, photo‑restyling tools for Stories and Memories, and the ability to add animated backgrounds to text posts.
Animated Profile Pictures
The new animated profile picture feature applies motion effects to static photos, making the subject appear to wave, form a heart shape, or wear a virtual party hat. For best results, Facebook recommends using a clear photo of a single person facing the camera. Photos can be pulled directly from a user’s camera roll or from images already on the platform. More animation options are planned throughout the year.
Image Credits: Facebook
Restyle for Stories and Memories
Facebook is enhancing its Stories (short photo and video posts that disappear after 24 hours) and Memories (a feature that resurfaces posts from the same date in previous years) with Restyle, a tool that uses Meta AI to reimagine the look of user‑uploaded images.
After uploading a photo to Stories or selecting a Memory to share, users can tap Restyle and either:
- Enter a text‑based prompt, or
- Select from preset themes such as anime, illustrated, glowy, ethereal, and more.
Additional options let users adjust moods, lighting, and colors, or swap in new backdrops like a beach or cityscape.
Animated Backgrounds for Text Posts
To spice up text posts, Facebook is gradually rolling out animated backgrounds. By clicking the new rainbow “A” icon, users can choose from a variety of still and animated scenes—such as falling leaves or rolling ocean waves—to make their posts stand out in the feed. Seasonal backgrounds are slated to arrive soon.
Image Credits: Facebook
Context and Recent Updates
With around 2.1 billion daily active users, Facebook remains a social media giant, but it has struggled to attract and retain a younger demographic in recent years. To address this, the platform has embraced new technology, including AI, and introduced a more youthful redesign.
Other recent updates include:
- A friends‑only feed
- The ability to use unique display names within Groups, similar to Reddit’s usernames
- A revamped poke feature with a dedicated button on profiles that sends a notification to the recipient
These changes aim to deliver a more personalized experience that appeals to Gen Z and keeps Facebook relevant among younger users.