Diary of Grumpy Old Geek: Do We Really Need AI-Generated Content?

Dear diary, I need to vent. I’ve started to realize that I’m living in unexpectedly interesting times. So much so that what feels relevant today will soon be nothing more than a fleeting memory in the middle of technological overload. I’m frustrated by the flood of AI-generated content.

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Why do we need ‘Vibes’ as well?

Be honest: how many times have you groaned when some “genius” on Facebook posted a video of a cat chasing a leopard, only to smack a bear a moment later? It’s the kind of thing that makes you want to scream, or even throw your phone at the wall. But apparently, that wasn’t enough for Mark Zuckerberg – he seems to have decided the world’s absurdity level still isn’t high enough.

And now here we are: Meta has launched a new project that, like most “brilliant” ideas, immediately sparked debate. It’s called “Vibes” – a new feed available in the Meta AI app and on meta.ai. The concept is pitched as “like TikTok, but better.” In reality, though, it’s essentially TikTok or Instagram Reels without the people – every video is generated entirely by AI.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of watching a dog read Hegel over coffee at Starbucks, or a pony beating Elon Musk at chess – welcome to Vibes. At last, Facebook can officially say: “We don’t need real users anymore, we can entertain ourselves.”

A cat kneads dough while an Egyptian woman takes a selfie

The great and powerful Mark Zuckerberg descended from his metaverse mountain to proudly announce the launch of “Vibes.” Naturally, the announcement came with a showcase of “masterpieces” generated by AI – creations that looked as if the system was trying to outdo the kind of bizarre dreams kids have after eating pizza too late at night.

One video shows plush creatures bouncing on soft blocks as if they’d just downed three cans of energy drink. Another features a cat kneading dough with the stern focus of a professional baker (because apparently, cats don’t just think – they’re ready to open their own bakeries). And then there’s the “masterpiece” of a woman in Ancient Egypt taking a selfie in front of the pyramids – clearly, that’s how history really looked, archaeologists just haven’t found the iPhone 17 Pro Max in a tomb yet.

According to Meta, users will be able to do whatever they like with this content: watch it, create their own videos from scratch, or – if that feels like too much work – just remix someone else’s creation to fit their mood. Want to add music? Easy. Give your dragon wings made of broccoli with some visual effects? No problem. Transform a regular clip into “gothic anime with a disco twist”? Go ahead – Meta’s got you covered.

And of course, all of it can be uploaded directly to “Vibes,” shared with friends in messages, or posted to Stories and Reels. Which basically means your Instagram will officially become a dumping ground for AI daydreams, while Facebook will finally embrace what it has always been: an endless circus where even the clowns look more serious than the content.

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Zuckerberg has found a new way to drive the internet to a nervous breakdown

The market is already getting sick of this endless flood of AI-generated fluff. But Zuckerberg doesn’t seem fazed – why worry when your universe has long since turned into a dumpster anyway?

First, Meta cozied up to creators of popular image generators like Midjourney and Black Forest Labs. After all, why reinvent the wheel when you can just slap a motor on a tricycle and call it a breakthrough? Still, Mark wouldn’t be Mark if he weren’t also building his own AI models in parallel – laying the groundwork for a future where even the “likes” will be artificially intelligent.

The community’s reaction? Entirely predictable – ranging from the classic “nobody asked for this” to philosophical gems like “Bro is pouring AI garbage into his own app.” Naturally, those comments racked up the most likes under Zuckerberg’s post. And one user summed up the collective wisdom of humanity with a single line: “I think I speak for everyone when I ask – what is this supposed to be?” Even AI couldn’t have put it better.

“Vibes” emerged at a time when the internet was already neck-deep in what could be called the AI-slope – a flood of low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence. YouTube and other platforms are scrambling to create filters and barriers just to stay somewhat sane. And Meta? Meta, as usual, decided to go all in: if the world is drowning in nonsense, why not become its biggest supplier?

This comes just months after the company was urging creators to be “authentic” and “share real stories.” Now, Meta is essentially saying: forget sincerity – just draw a cat reading the news in front of an explosion, and you’ve earned your five seconds of “vibe.”

Why are we getting this?!!

Meta is desperately fighting for a place in the AI landscape. The problem is simple: listening to users has never been their priority. Who are these users anyway? Just statistics for the next “engagement growth” presentation.

The new project is part of Meta’s broader strategy. In recent months, the company has poured billions into AI development to avoid looking like a dinosaur next to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google DeepMind. In June, they even launched a new division called “Meta Superintelligence Labs” (which sounds like they’re already building robots to replace humans at parties). Of course, they also reorganized internally: Meta now has four teams – one builds the core models, another handles “research,” a third figures out how to sell it to users, and the fourth manages infrastructure to make sure nothing crashes on the first launch.

Meta firmly believes that “Vibes” will be its golden ticket into the world of generative AI. The problem is, the “golden ticket” feels more like a toy from a Kinder Surprise: shiny, but ultimately useless. Instead of bringing joy, the new feature raises a simple question: who the hell actually needs this?

All of this comes at a time when the internet is already drowning in millions of videos, memes, and clips competing for our fleeting 10-second attention spans. But Meta decided the best way to “fix” things is to pour even more AI content onto the fire. Bravo, Mark. If the world is heading into an information hell, at least it’s with “vibes.”