Facebook has introduced an optional artificial intelligence feature that can scan users’ phone camera rolls and identify photos and videos it deems more “shareworthy”, expanding the company’s growing use of AI across its platforms.
The feature, now being rolled out in the United States and Canada, allows Facebook’s AI to access a user’s unpublished photos stored on their device and upload them to Meta‘s cloud.
Once enabled, the system reviews the camera roll to find “hidden gems” — pictures or clips that might otherwise remain buried among screenshots and casual snaps — and suggests edits or collages that can then be saved or shared.
The company said the tool is strictly voluntary and operates only with user consent. Meta described it as a way for people to rediscover and enhance photos they have not yet posted on Facebook.
Meta clarifies limits on AI training
Meta said the feature will not use users’ unpublished photos to train its artificial intelligence models unless they take an additional step, such as editing or publishing the AI-generated suggestions.
“This means the camera roll media uploaded by this feature to make suggestions won’t be used to improve AI at Meta,” spokesperson Mari Melguizo said. “Only if you edit the suggestions with our AI tools or publish those suggestions to Facebook, improvements to AI at Meta may be made.”
Once activated, the feature uploads selected media from a user’s phone to Meta’s servers to generate creative suggestions.
The company said the data would not be used for advertising, although it has previously acknowledged that some information could be retained beyond 30 days for technical reasons.
The feature will appear as an option inviting users to “allow cloud processing to get creative ideas made for you from your camera roll”.
Facebook AI features
Meta has not confirmed when or if the feature will expand to Instagram. The company said it is intended for Facebook users who enjoy taking photos but want help improving them before posting, or who do not have time to edit manually.
The announcement follows earlier testing reported in mid-2025, when Meta began limited trials of a similar AI system that could access private, unposted photos.
At the time, the company said such content was not being used for training its AI, but it did not rule out that possibility for future updates.
Meta’s latest move is likely to revive debate over user consent and data use. In 2024, the company confirmed it had already trained its AI models on public photos and text posted to Facebook and Instagram by adult users since 2007.
Facebook said the new feature will roll out gradually over the coming months. It aims to help users “create something special” from the photos they already have, though privacy experts say it also extends Meta’s reach deeper into users’ personal devices — potentially blurring the line between convenience and surveillance.
