How to use Meta AI on Instagram and Facebook | Complete Guide

Did you notice it, too? AI has JUST arrived on your social media apps 🤯

Meta AI is now available on Meta’s top apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. It acts like a chat interface, which means users can ask questions and generate AI-driven images using Meta AI.

Yep, just like ChatGPT 🤯

People who haven’t used any kind of AI before (or had no interest in the technology), will now have the opportunity to use AI on their apps —especially on Instagram and Facebook, which have MILLIONS of active users.

Important note: Meta is still in the process of rolling out Meta AI for their apps, so this feature currently isn’t available to everyone. You can update your apps and see if the feature is already available for you afterwards or wait until Meta AI has been completely rolled out.

So how to use Meta AI on Instagram and Facebook? 🤔

Let’s dive in!

How to start your chat with Meta AI

Just like in ChatGPT, you can start conversations with AI on both Instagram and Facebook.

However! Please remember that AI is not a 100% reliable tool for important decision-making. So back up any responses you receive with solid research!

Chat with Meta AI on Instagram

Sample chat of Meta AI chat on Instagram.

Now, here are some commands you can use to interact with Meta AI:

/ai-options: Displays a list of commands you can use.

/imagine: Allows you to create an image from your text instructions.

For example, if you type “/imagine a flying cat” this is what appears:

After the image appears, you can press and hold the image, then select “Reply” to modify it with a new prompt.

New Meta AI Update (28 April 2024): You can now use the “Imagine” option in your IG chats WITHOUT having to use Meta AI! 🤯 Just tap the + symbol in the message field, select “stickers” and then select “imagine.”

And what if you wanted to animate your image? You can do that too!

To animate an image from Meta AI, press and hold it, choose “Animate this”. Meta AI will then create an animated version of the image.

Nuts, right?!

New Meta AI Update (28 April 2024): The “animate” option now works for your own images! 😲 If you have an image you want to experiment with, you can ask Meta AI on Instagram, Messenger, Facebook Stories, and WhatsApp to animate it, edit it to a new style, or even turn it into a fun GIF.

Chat with Meta AI on Facebook/Messenger

Sample chat of Meta AI chat on Facebook’s Messenger.

Via the Meta AI tab:

Step 1: Open the Messenger app and tap on the Meta AI tab.

Step 2: You can either choose a suggested prompt or type your own in the text box and then tap send.

Step 3: Meta AI will then engage with you in a chat, allowing you to keep the conversation going.

Via Search in Messenger:

Step 1: In the Messenger app, use the search bar to type “Ask Meta AI anything.”

Step 2: Either select a suggested prompt or type your question and then press search on your keyboard. In our photo above, for example, we asked, “Why do cats purr?”

Step 3: Meta AI will reply in a chat, and you can continue interacting from there.

If you want to generate images using Meta AI on Messenger, you can also use the /imagine prompt just like on Instagram. The “animate” option also works on Messenger!

How to include Meta AI in your group chats

Now, what if you wanna experiment with Meta AI together with a friend? It’s now possible! 😲

Meta AI in your Instagram group chats

Here’s how to use Meta AI in a chat with your friends:

Step 1: At the bottom of the chat, tap the “Message…“.

Step 2: Type “@” followed by selecting “Meta AI.”

Step 3: Type your question or request and then tap the send button next to your message. Any message would do!

You can use Meta AI to surface Reels, generate images, and search the web for real-time information as well.

For example, you can ask the AI to come up with a caption or answer a funny question, and it will answer like this:

Meta AI answers your questions on Instagram.

Step 4: Your inquiry and Meta AI’s reply will appear as messages in the chat.

Important Note: Remember that other participants in the chat can see both your message to Meta AI and its response. Meta AI only accesses messages directed to it by “@Meta AI”. According to the company, your other messages in the chat are private and NOT visible to the chatbot.

Step 5: To continue the conversation or ask another question, press and hold a message from Meta AI and then select “Reply.”

Meta AI in your Messenger group chats

If you and your friends prefer to chat on Messenger, here’s how you can include Meta AI in the conversation:

Step 1: Choose and open an existing chat.

Step 2: In the message input area, type “@” and select “Meta AI,” then type your message. Again, be cautious not to include personal information in your message! 🔏

Step 3: Meta AI will reply directly in the chat. Meta AI will only engage with messages that directly mention “@Meta AI,” including commands like “@Meta AI /imagine.” 👌

How Meta AI can help in your content creation

The new Instagram search bar with Meta AI.

Meta AI is really revolutionising how users interact with Facebook and Instagram. But it doesn’t just end at chatbots!

Meta has also introduced an advanced AI-powered search function across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. According to the Meta company, these search functions can help you access real-time information from across the web, so you don’t need to hop between platforms anymore 😌

People have been asking for a search function within Instagram for the longest time, and now Meta has answered by creating their own AI tool. This means you can now ask AI for anything you’re trying to search! 👍

The Meta AI search tool not only understands but also anticipates your search needs by offering pre-loaded search phrases like “Best dog food brands” or “Help me get better sleep.”

But here’s the MOST important thing for your content creation: Optimising your Instagram and Facebook content now goes beyond hashtags. If you use Meta AI to help you come up with content ideas and search phrases, this is probably more likely to be pushed via their algorithm 🤯

These “search phrases” are what your potential followers are likely to enter when looking for content like yours. So it’s increasingly crucial to incorporate these phrases into your captions!

Step-by-step guide: How to use effective search phrases using Meta AI

Our AI tools expert Richard Phu and Social Media Manager Victoria Nelle use AI and other technology to streamline content on multiple platforms.

To leverage Meta AI in your content creation and potentially maximise your reach on Instagram and Facebook, here are some tips that might help you:

Step 1: Use Meta AI on the search bar

Regularly experiment with the search bar on Instagram and Facebook to see what phrases pop up when you start typing related topics.

For instance, you can type “social media tips” and you might see special suggestions from Meta AI like “social media marketing tips for small businesses” or “social media marketing tips for 2023” (see image above).

These suggestions are what you should be including in your captions 💯

💡 Hot tip: You can also use Meta Foresight to track growing trends in your niche.

Step 2: Create a list of popular search terms

Compile a list of the most relevant and popular search terms suggested by Meta AI. You can even use a spreadsheet for this so you can keep things organised!

💡Hot tip: Download our free 2024 Social Media Calendar here!

These terms should be closely related to your content niche and what your target audience is searching for.

For example, if your niche is social media and you already searched “social media tips”, keep a list of other targeted terms that Meta AI suggests like “effective social media strategies,” “tips for engaging online audiences,” or “best times to post on social media.”

Step 3: Integrate Search Phrases into Your Content

Based on the Meta AI search result above, integrating the search phrase “social media marketing tips for small businesses” into your content can effectively target your intended audience.

Here’s how you might craft the caption and choose hashtags:

Caption:

Looking to level up your small business on social media? 🚀 Discover our top marketing tips that are easy to implement and cost-effective! From optimising your profiles to engaging interactively with your followers, we’re here to help you grow. Check out our latest blog link in bio for more in-depth strategies! 💡 #SmallBusinessSuccess

Hashtags:

#SocialMediaTips #SmallBizMarketing #MarketingForSmallBiz #GrowYourBusiness #SocialMediaForBusiness
These elements are designed to not only attract the attention of small business owners but also to improve discoverability and engagement on social media platforms.

Step 4: Use AI for Content Scheduling

Check the best times to post 📲 You can use Instagram Insights for this; the tool can suggest when your audience is most active (e.g. in the evenings on weekdays). So schedule your posts accordingly to increase visibility!

💡 Hot tip: You can use NotionNinja to auto-publish unlimited social media posts right from Notion!

Step 5: Monitor Engagement and Adjust

Pay attention to which phrases lead to higher engagement (likes, comments, and shares) on your posts 👌

You can use Instagram Insights again to see how many people found the post via hashtags or search, and note any spikes in profile visits or website clicks!

Step 6: Iterate and Innovate

Based on feedback and engagement, consider doing follow-up posts using Steps 1-5. You can experiment with related AI-generated search phrases you haven’t used yet to really pinpoint what your ideal audience is searching for.

Remember to keep an eye on emerging trends and search phrases within your niche! Utilising trending phrases can help your content appear in search results, making it more accessible to a broader audience.

AI for businesses is here to stay

Meta AI is significantly transforming how we use social media apps. It’s making our searches smarter and our content strategies more effective. As Meta continuously updates its AI algorithms, staying updated with these changes can help you adjust your content strategy MORE effectively.

So don’t let the opportunity slip by! 💪 By strategically using AI-suggested search phrases and experimenting with Meta’s new capabilities, your posts could be discovered by interested users, effectively driving engagement and potentially boosting your sales 🚀