Starting next year, every ad you see on Meta platforms could be generated by AI

Digital advertising on Meta is about to take a dramatic turn: A new report reveals that by 2026, Meta could automate the entire ad creation and targeting process using AI. That means: Every ad you see on Facebook, Instagram, etc. will be generated by AI.

The automated advertising revolution

Meta launched an AI toolkit for advertisers in May 2023 that allows them to use generative AI in their campaigns. Currently, Meta's ad platform uses AI for targeting. But according to a new report, they want to go further: AI will create ads from scratch.

The process is incredibly simple. Advertisers simply enter their product images and budget goals; Meta's AI takes care of the rest. Notably, using the uploaded product images and budget, Meta AI creates a complete ad package, including text, images, and videos, and selects the best target audience.

The move fits into Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's broader vision of AI automation as the future of advertising. Advertising is the core of Meta's business, accounting for more than 97% of the company's total revenue last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. What's more, advertising helps the company invest in 'AI chips and data centers, as well as to train advanced AI models.'

At the company's recent annual shareholder meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated:

In the not-too-distant future, we want to see a world where any business simply tells us what they're trying to achieve, like selling something or finding new customers, how much they're willing to pay for each result, and connects their bank account. Then we do the rest.

Starting next year, every ad you see on Meta platforms could be generated by AI Picture 1

Meta is also developing new AI ad tools that enable real-time personalization. This means advertisers will be able to see different versions of their ads based on factors like geographic location. Users in snowy areas might see an ad featuring a snowmobile, while those in urban areas might see the same ad driving down a busy street.

Meta's plan to push AI across its platforms comes after rivals like Google introduced its advanced video-generating AI tool Veo. Meta is also looking to integrate third-party AI models like Dall-E and Midjourney into its platform.