AI Everything Today

Quick overview: what Meta announced and when it takes effect

Meta announced that starting December 16, 2025, text and voice interactions with its AI assistant will be used to personalize ads, suggested posts, Reels, and Facebook groups. The change applies across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, when accounts are linked in Meta Accounts Center. Meta will begin notifying users about this change on October 7, 2025, and the rollout will exclude the European Union, the United Kingdom, and South Korea while Meta addresses regional regulatory requirements.

This update means conversations you have one on one with Meta’s AI assistant can influence the recommendations and advertising you see on Meta apps. Meta says it will exclude conversations about certain sensitive topics from use in personalization, but users cannot opt out of having AI chats used for personalization. Traditional ad preference controls will still be available.

Which apps and accounts are affected

The change applies to interactions with Meta’s AI assistant that take place on the following apps, when accounts are linked through Meta Accounts Center:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• WhatsApp
• Messenger

If your accounts are not linked, AI chat data from one app should not automatically feed personalization in another app. Meta’s Accounts Center lets users link profiles and share information across apps; that linking determines cross app use of AI chat inputs.

What data will be used

Meta says it will use non sensitive content from one on one AI chats, including text and voice interactions, to shape recommendations and ads. The company states it will not use conversations about certain sensitive topics for personalization. Meta has not provided a complete public list of every excluded topic, but the company indicates categories considered sensitive will be omitted.

Key points about data scope

• Text and voice AI chats are included, unless they fall into excluded sensitive categories.
• One on one chats with the AI assistant are the target; group or public posts are not the focus of this update.
• Interactions may inform ads and suggestions across linked Meta apps.

Opt out, controls, and user choices

Meta states users cannot opt out of having AI chat interactions used for personalization. That means the choice to prevent AI chat content from influencing ads and recommendations is not offered. Meta does continue to provide traditional ad preference controls. These controls let users limit certain ad topics, review ad settings, and manage interests that affect advertising, but they do not stop AI chats from contributing to personalization.

Practical steps users can take now

• Check ad settings in each Meta app and adjust ad topic preferences.
• Review whether your accounts are linked in Meta Accounts Center, and unlink them if you do not want cross app personalization.
• Be cautious about discussing sensitive subjects in AI chats if you do not want them considered for recommendations, even though Meta says sensitive topics are excluded.
• Monitor the notifications Meta sends starting October 7 for more specific details and any local changes.

Privacy and encryption issues to watch

Meta says the way it handles end to end encrypted conversations will not change as part of this update. That statement addresses the content protections offered by encryption. Still, privacy experts and users may raise questions about how metadata and cross app linking are handled. Metadata can include details like when an interaction occurred, which app was used, and account linking information. Those details can shape personalization even without reading message content.

Because the update allows AI chat interactions to inform recommendations across linked apps, any account linking in Accounts Center affects where personalization signals travel. That raises choices for users about whether to keep accounts linked or separate.

Regulatory and ethical implications

Meta is delaying the rollout in the EU, the UK, and South Korea while it addresses regional regulatory requirements. Privacy regulators and data protection laws in those places may require extra safeguards, clearer consent pathways, or changes to how data is processed. The decision to exclude certain regions suggests Meta expects to face additional scrutiny and possibly different legal obligations in those markets.

Broader questions include how the company defines sensitive topics, how it enforces exclusions, and how transparent it will be when AI chat data influences content and ads. Those are the sorts of issues regulators and civil society groups typically evaluate.

Why Meta is making this change

Companies that run large social apps use signals from user behavior to personalize feeds and to sell more targeted advertising. Meta is expanding the signals it can use to include AI chat interactions. The business rationale is straightforward, personalized content can increase engagement, and more accurate targeting can boost ad revenue.

For ordinary users, this means the AI assistant can shape what appears in your feed, suggested posts, Reels, and groups. For advertisers and content creators, the change potentially improves how well ads and recommended content match user interests as inferred from AI chats.

What this likely means for everyday use

• You might see content and ads related to topics you discussed with the AI assistant on one app appearing on another linked app.
• If your accounts are linked, an AI chat in Messenger could influence Instagram recommendations and ads, and vice versa.
• If you want to avoid cross app influence, consider reviewing Accounts Center and unlinking accounts that do not need to be connected.

Key takeaways

• Starting December 16, 2025, Meta will use non sensitive AI chat content to personalize ads and recommendations across linked apps.
• Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger are included where accounts are linked in Meta Accounts Center.
• Users cannot opt out of AI chat personalization, but standard ad controls remain and accounts can be unlinked.
• The rollout excludes the EU, the UK, and South Korea while Meta addresses regulatory issues; notifications begin October 7, 2025.

Short FAQ

Will my private, encrypted messages be read by Meta?

Meta says the treatment of end to end encrypted conversations will not change. That means content protected by encryption should remain unreadable to the company in the same way as before. However, metadata and cross app linking are still relevant to personalization, so check account linking settings if you have concerns.

Can I stop my AI chats from influencing ads?

Meta does not offer an opt out for AI chat personalization. You can still adjust ad preferences and unlink accounts in Meta Accounts Center to limit cross app signals.

Are sensitive topics excluded?

Meta says it will exclude certain sensitive topics from being used. The company has not published a full list of excluded categories in the announcement. If discussing sensitive issues with the AI assistant worries you, avoid raising them in chats until you see specific details from Meta about what is excluded.

Practical checklist for users

• Look for Meta notifications starting October 7, 2025 for more details about the change.
• Open each Meta app and review ad settings, ad topic controls, and any privacy options offered for AI features.
• Visit Meta Accounts Center and check whether your accounts are linked across apps; unlink if you want to reduce cross app personalization.
• Avoid discussing health, finances, politics, or other sensitive topics in AI chats if you do not want those subjects considered at all, until Meta clarifies exclusions.
• Consider limiting AI assistant use or using it in accounts that are not linked if you want to reduce personalization impact across apps.

Concluding thoughts

This update extends the signals Meta can use to shape the ads and content users see, by including interactions with its AI assistant. The company says sensitive topics will be excluded and that encrypted conversations are unaffected, but mandatory inclusion of AI chat data for personalization raises important privacy and regulatory questions. Users should expect notifications starting October 7, 2025 and the change to take effect December 16, 2025, except in the EU, the UK, and South Korea. Taking a few simple steps now, such as reviewing ad controls and account linking, can help you manage how much AI chat data influences your feeds and ads.