Instagram adds a slew of new filters, AI Stickers and more

Along with a slew of other upgrades, Instagram is introducing a new feature that will allow users to use AI to make bespoke stickers for their Reels and Stories. The stickers, which are powered by Meta's Segment Anything AI model, may be generated by uploading your own photographs or videos from your phone's Camera Roll or by selecting from suitable photos and videos on Instagram.

The AI model allows you to "cut out" any object within an image with a single click, similar to the image cutout capability that debuted with the release of iOS 16 by Apple. Apple also allows you to create your own stickers in iMessage, such as a sticker of your beloved pet, by tapping and holding on the subject of the shot, which then pulls it away from the background.

Meta's bespoke Instagram stickers function similarly. When you point the app at a piece of media, it will automatically highlight the subject of the photo for you. However, if the AI makes a mistake or you want to fine-tune the sticker, you can choose to manually select the subject. Then, tap "Use Sticker" to insert the saved sticker into your Reel or Story.

Users will be able to access the functionality through a new "Create" option in the sticker search entry box, alongside Poll, Add Yours, Quiz, and other options.

This custom sticker differs from the previously released AI stickers, which allow users to enter text to automatically build a sticker using prompts. In September, the business demonstrated the technology at its Meta Connect event, which is powered by Emu, its new core model for picture production. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated the functionality by typing out bizarre thoughts such as "Hungarian sheepdog driving a 444." Over the month after the event, the feature was gradually rolled out to English-language customers.

The new custom AI stickers were released alongside a slew of other creator-focused features for Instagram and Reels, such as new "undo" and "redo" features for Reels; new tools for scaling, cropping, and rotating individual clips; and access to a new Media Clip hub for creating memes by adding clips with audio to your Reels.

Surprisingly, the company also added new photo filters for Posts — a feature that originally defined Instagram in its early days but has since been pushed to the sidelines as the social network platform has shifted its focus to video, Stories, and Reels. The filters include "subtle color edits" as well as those for more "expressive styles," according to an Instagram blog post.

In addition, the business included 10 additional English text-to-speech voices (in certain countries), six new text fonts and styles, and outline support.

Instagram also adjusted other features, such as new ways to find trending music or access the audio browser from the top of the Camera Roll, and a streamlined view of Drafts, where you can rename and schedule Drafts. You can also now zoom and search through your Camera Roll to find the photographs and videos you wish to use.

Instagram and Facebook are adding a new Reels metric called "Replays," which will now be combined with "Initial Plays" to produce a total "Plays" figure for artists tracking metrics. Although a user watching a Reel twice or more is still only one person, the "Initial Plays" metric will still assist producers evaluate their reach in terms of individual users. Later, creators will be able to check how many people are viewing their Reel via an interactive real-time Retention Chart, according to Meta.

The new capabilities will be available on Instagram starting today, but you may not see them right away because updates sometimes take a few days to reach the entire Instagram population.