Zuckerberg Bets Big on AI as the Future of Social Media
▼ Summary
– Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg now envisions AI-generated social feeds as the next major media format, shifting focus from the metaverse.
– He predicts AI will make feeds more immersive and interactive, moving beyond current algorithm-based content recommendations.
– Meta has already launched a “Vibes” feed of AI-generated videos and hinted at interactive, prompt-created worlds for users to share.
– The company’s metaverse division, Reality Labs, reported a significant $6.02 billion operating loss, leading to layoffs and studio closures.
– Meta plans to monetize its AI advancements through subscriptions and advertising for its Meta AI chatbot, alongside strong quarterly financial results.
The landscape of social media is poised for a fundamental shift, with artificial intelligence moving from a background tool to the central creative engine. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has articulated a clear vision where AI-generated and AI-enhanced content becomes the dominant format, transforming passive scrolling into an interactive and deeply personalized experience. He frames this as the natural evolution from text to photos to video, suggesting that AI will unlock entirely new forms of media that are more immersive than anything available today.
During a recent earnings discussion, Zuckerberg described a future where the company’s apps evolve beyond simple recommendation algorithms. He envisions an AI that genuinely understands individual users, capable of not only surfacing content they will enjoy but also generating unique, personalized content on demand. This represents a significant pivot from the current model, aiming to make the social feed itself a dynamic creation.
This focus on AI-driven social interaction is not entirely new for Meta. Last year, Zuckerberg hinted at similar ambitions, noting that AI would dramatically expand the volume and variety of content by making creation and remixing far more accessible. The company has already taken steps in this direction, such as launching a “Vibes” feed within its Meta AI app, which offers a stream of short, AI-generated videos for users to browse.
Looking further ahead, Zuckerberg hinted at even more transformative formats. He suggested users might soon be able to create entire virtual worlds or games simply by typing a prompt, then sharing those experiences with friends. He also speculated on the future of video, imagining a platform where any clip could be tapped to become an interactive environment, allowing for a deeper level of engagement.
Notably absent from the discussion were detailed new goals for the metaverse, a concept that once dominated the company’s forward-looking statements. Instead, Zuckerberg positioned Meta’s ongoing investments in virtual reality and its Horizon Worlds platform as complementary to these AI advances. The idea is that these technologies will work in tandem to deliver next-generation experiences, even through mobile devices. This shift in emphasis comes as Meta’s Reality Labs division, which houses its metaverse efforts, continues to report substantial financial losses, including an operating loss of over six billion dollars in the last quarter of 2025. The division has also seen significant layoffs and studio closures recently.
Financially, Meta remains robust, reporting strong revenue and net income for the quarter. The company appears to be exploring ways to leverage its AI investments for new revenue streams. Zuckerberg indicated to investors that there will be opportunities for both subscriptions and advertising tied to its Meta AI services. This aligns with reports that the company is considering placing advanced AI features behind a paywall, signaling a move toward direct monetization of its artificial intelligence capabilities.
(Source: The Verge)
