Editorial illustration for Facebook adds AI presets to animate profile pictures, e.g., waving or party hat
Meta AI Transforms Photos with Creative Editing Magic
Facebook adds AI presets to animate profile pictures, e.g., waving or party hat
A fresh update is turning static profile photos into tiny loops of motion. Facebook’s latest AI‑driven presets let you take a single snapshot and add a simple gesture—a wave to say hello—or a playful accessory like a party hat. The feature rolls out as part of the platform’s broader push into AI tools, giving everyday users a way to personalize their presence without needing graphic‑design skills.
While the animations are limited to pre‑designed options, they promise a quick visual cue that can make a profile feel a bit more alive. It’s a modest step, but one that nudges social media toward more dynamic self‑expression. The move also hints at how AI can automate small, creative tweaks that previously required manual editing.
With the animated profile pictures, you'll be able to give a sti…
**Facebook can animate your profile pic with AI**
Facebook can animate your profile pic with AI With preset animations, you can have a still photo wave to your friends or put on a party hat. With preset animations, you can have a still photo wave to your friends or put on a party hat. With the animated profile pictures, you'll be able to give a still photo motion with some preset types of animations, including "natural, party hat, confetti, wave, and heart," Meta says.
Meta suggests using a photo featuring a single person facing the camera with a visible face who isn't holding anything. More animation options will be added "throughout the year." To restyle Stories or Memories, you can tap on the Restyle button and either type out the changes you want Meta's AI to make to the photo or pick from Meta's pre-set options, like "anime" or "low-poly." And to spruce up your text posts with the new animated backgrounds, while you're drafting a post, look for an A icon over a rainbow background to pull up a menu of different background styles to pick from, including both animated and still options. Facebook is still a huge platform, with more than 2 billion daily active unique users.
Will the animated profile pictures catch on? Facebook is now rolling out AI‑driven presets that can make a static photo wave, don a party hat, or otherwise move in the feed. The same technology will also restyle Stories and Memories, and add animated backgrounds to plain text posts, giving them a bit of visual flair.
Users can choose from the built‑in options, but the company has not disclosed whether custom animations will be supported later. The feature appears to be a direct response to the growing popularity of short‑form visual content, yet it is unclear how the added motion will affect engagement metrics or user experience. Because the animations are generated by AI, concerns about consistency and possible artifacts remain, though Facebook has not released details on the underlying models.
As the rollout proceeds, the platform will likely monitor feedback, but no timeline for broader availability or pricing has been announced. For now, the tools represent a modest expansion of the social network’s visual toolbox, pending further user response.
Further Reading
- Facebook adds new AI features, animated profile photos and backgrounds for text posts - TechCrunch
- Facebook Adding AI Profile Picture Animations and Story Editing Tools - MacRumors
- Facebook Adds AI-Generated Profile Videos - Social Media Today
- Facebook is offering Meta AI-powered animations for profile photos - Engadget
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Common Questions Answered
How can I create an AI-generated video using Vibes on the Meta AI app?
With Vibes, you can start from scratch, work with existing content, or remix a video from the feed. You can add new visuals, layer in music, and adjust styles to match your taste, then share directly to the Vibes feed, DM to friends, or cross-post to Instagram and Facebook Stories and Reels.
What features are available for editing and animating images in the Meta AI app?
The Meta AI app allows you to edit uploaded or previously generated images by providing detailed prompts or using preset styles. You can also animate images by uploading a photo and typing an animation prompt, with options to animate both newly uploaded and previously generated images.
How is Meta addressing transparency around AI-generated content?
Meta is working with industry partners to develop common technical standards for identifying AI content, including video and audio. They will begin labeling images on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads when they can detect industry-standard indicators that the images are AI-generated, and have already been labeling photorealistic images created using Meta AI with an 'Imagined with AI' tag.