Instagram users can now use Meta AI editing tools directly in IG Stories (techcrunch.com)

Meta has added prompt-driven photo and video editing to Instagram Stories, letting users type commands to "add," "remove," or "change" elements directly in the Stories editor. The tools live in the new “Restyle” menu under the paintbrush icon; users can ask for simple edits (change hair color, add a crown, swap in a sunset) or pick preset effects (sunglasses, biker jacket, watercolor). Video effects—like snow or flames—are also supported. This expands previously chatbot-only image editing into the main Stories UX, lowering the barrier to on-device generative edits. Technically, the feature applies Meta’s generative image/video models to user-uploaded media, and using it binds you to Meta’s AI Terms of Service, which permit the company to analyze facial features and “summarize, modify, and generate” content from your images. The move is significant because it mainstreams multimodal generative editing in social apps—boosting engagement and competing with other AI tools—but also raises privacy and safety questions (deepfake risks, data reuse). Meta is pairing product updates with safety measures like parental controls for AI chats; meanwhile, related features such as “Write with Meta AI” and the Vibes video feed have likely driven fast user growth (Meta AI app DAUs rose to 2.7M from ~775k in four weeks, per Similarweb).