Meta Created AI Chatbots Pretending to Be Real Celebrities — and the Celebrities Didn't Know What They'd Say

In late 2023, Meta launched AI 'personas' modeled after real celebrities: Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner, Naomi Osaka, and others. The celebrities were paid to license their likeness but had no control over what the AI would say. Journalists testing the bots found them making up false personal details, expressing political opinions, and engaging in flirtatious conversations the real celebrities had never approved. Meta's AI Snoop Dogg persona discussed topics Snoop had never commented on. Critics called it a reputational trap for the celebrities involved. Meta quietly limited the personas' scope after media coverage.