The next era of social media is coming. And it’s messy so far

The landscape of social media is witnessing a dramatic transformation, fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence. Picture a baby fleeing from a T-Rex, accompanied by Lady Gaga's music, or cats clad in trendy streetwear dancing on their hind legs. This chaotic imagery is just a glimpse into the latest developments as major tech companies experiment with AI-driven social media platforms. Among the newest contenders is the Sora app from OpenAI, which has generated buzz for its quirky content. Meta has also joined the fray with its AI application, Vibes, resembling the popular TikTok video format. Users can now engage with AI personas on Instagram and utilize TikTok's AI Alive feature to effortlessly transform images into videos. This push towards integrating AI into social media is more than just a trend; it's a high-stakes race that could redefine the future of the internet. For tech giants, securing a successful position in this arena is crucial, particularly as they seek profitable avenues for AI amid concerns about a potential market bubble. However, the increasing presence of AI in our social feeds has sparked significant concerns. Questions have arisen regarding copyright infringements and the potential for AI-driven platforms to exacerbate the spread of misinformation. Following the launch of Sora, Charles Rivkin, CEO of the Motion Picture Association, expressed alarm over the proliferation of videos infringing upon copyrighted films and characters on OpenAI’s service. In response, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman announced plans to enhance rights holders' control over character generation and explore revenue-sharing options. The platform has implemented restrictions on prompts featuring copyrighted characters, now returning error messages for such requests. The advent of AI has amplified long-standing worries about misinformation on social media. Sora, with its ability to produce realistic video content, raises new concerns, particularly given the ease with which watermarks can be removed to disguise AI-generated videos. To tackle this issue, Sora embeds C2PA metadata to trace video origins and includes features aimed at detecting public figures and preventing deepfakes. Meta also emphasizes safety, claiming that AI-generated content carries an “invisible watermark” for tracking harmful material. However, there are growing apprehensions regarding AI chatbots, particularly their impact on teens, following lawsuits alleging that AI interactions have contributed to mental health crises among young users. To address these issues, Sora has introduced measures to protect younger audiences, such as prohibiting the generation of mature content and restricting adult interactions with minors. Similarly, Meta has implemented technology to limit adult access to teen content based on previous suspicious behavior. Despite these precautions, a pressing question remains: do users truly desire an influx of AI-generated content in their feeds? The randomness of outputs from Sora and Meta AI might not appeal to everyone, leaving some users feeling overwhelmed rather than engaged. Earlier this year, confusion arose as some Meta AI users were unaware their AI discussions, including sensitive topics, could appear in the public feed. Ultimately, while Sora and Meta AI aim to inspire creativity among users, the striking similarities to existing short-form video platforms suggest a desire to attract viewers. As these companies navigate this evolving landscape, the future of social media may be on the brink of a radical transformation that blends AI innovation with user engagement.