# Meta Launches Muse Image AI Generator — Then Faces Backlash Over Consent-Free Photo Use

*2026-07-08 22:01 UTC · AI · 1 min read*

> Meta's new Muse Image AI generator lets users create images of tagged Instagram users without their consent, drawing immediate privacy criticism.

Meta unveiled Muse Image on July 7, 2026, the first image-generation model from Meta Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang. The tool, internally code-named Mango, is free via the Meta AI app, Instagram Stories and WhatsApp, with paid plans for heavier use.

Muse Image interprets complex multi-step prompts — multiple objects, camera angles, lighting, artistic styles and spatial relationships — and can reason through a request before generating, planning layouts and blending photos. Meta claims it beats Google Nano Banana 2 on several benchmarks while trailing OpenAI's latest GPT Image model on overall quality.

The launch quickly drew criticism: a feature lets users tag a public Instagram account and generate new AI images using that person's real photos without their explicit consent. Meta will not notify people when their images are used this way — turning it off requires an opt-out rather than the feature being opt-in.

## Sources

- [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/07/meta-rolls-out-muse-a-new-ai-image-generator/)
- [cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/meta-ai-muse-image.html)

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TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/1971-meta-launches-muse-image-ai-generator-then-faces-backlash-over-consent-free
Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/2044-meta-spustila-generator-obrazku-muse-image-a-hned-celi-kritice-za-pouzivani