Facebook adds new AI features, animated profile photos and backgrounds for text posts | TechCrunch

"The new animated profile picture feature applies motion effects to static photos, making the subject appear to be waving, making a heart shape, or wearing a virtual party hat. To achieve the 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. The company also plans to add more animation options throughout the year."

"Facebook is also 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, including anime, illustrated, glowy, ethereal, and more. There are also options to adjust moods, lighting, and colors, and to swap in new backdrops such as a beach or a cityscape."

"As Meta works to maintain Facebook's relevance among younger users on its flagship app, it's likely betting that these new features will deliver a more personalized experience that appeals to Gen Z. To spice up text posts, Facebook is also gradually rolling out animated backgrounds. By clicking on 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."

Facebook rolled out several AI-powered creative features to enable more playful self-expression and personalization. Animated profile pictures add motion effects like waving, heart shapes, or virtual party hats and work best with clear single-person photos. The Restyle tool for Stories and Memories uses Meta AI to reimagine uploaded images via text prompts or preset themes such as anime, illustrated, glowy, and ethereal, with controls for mood, lighting, color, and background swaps. Animated backgrounds for text posts offer still and moving scenes selectable via a new rainbow icon. Seasonal backgrounds and more animation options are planned.

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