A bizarre technical glitch on Instagram left users globally confused on Saturday after their friend lists suddenly displayed all contacts under the label "AI", sparking frustration and speculation about the platform’s artificial intelligence features.
The issue, first widely reported on discussion platform Reddit, resulted in users being unable to differentiate between their actual friends as every contact was marked with the same “AI” tag. While profile pictures remained intact, the uniform naming rendered basic functions—like sending videos or messages—difficult for many.
One Reddit user, posting under the name “9yearold911,” shared a screenshot of the problem, writing, “I can’t find any of my friends. They’re all just called AI. This is ridiculous.” Others voiced similar complaints, with some resorting to manually copying and pasting video links to share content. “It feels like going back to the Stone Age,” one user commented.
The glitch also coincided with another in-app message that some users saw on their home screens: “AI chats are not yet available to everyone.” This added to speculation that Instagram’s parent company, Meta, may be in the process of rolling out broader AI features—a move that may have inadvertently triggered the confusion.
As of Saturdaymorning, Meta had not issued a formal statement explaining the incident, nor had it offered any timeline for a fix. The company has remained silent on whether the bug was a result of internal testing, a system update, or an accidental rollout of new AI-based functionalities.
This is not the first time AI features have drawn criticism from Instagram’s user base. In June, several users complained of being wrongfully banned for allegedly using automation tools—despite adhering to the platform’s guidelines. The incident reignited concerns over how AI moderation tools are being deployed, often without transparency or human oversight.
Tech analysts say the recent glitch underscores the risks associated with rapid AI integration in mainstream platforms. “There’s a growing trust deficit when companies roll out AI tools without proper communication,” said Ethan Zhao, a software engineer based in Palo Alto. “When those systems malfunction, users feel blindsided and helpless.”
The latest misstep has prompted renewed calls from digital rights advocates urging Meta to ensure that new AI features are tested more thoroughly and communicated more clearly to the public.
In the meantime, users continue to report sporadic issues on the app. While some have regained normal functionality, others say their contact lists remain glitched.
