Creative GenerationConsumer FacingVerified
Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, March 23, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
Instagram lets users take any photo they have uploaded and use AI to cut out any object from it, turning it into a personal sticker — no manual tracing required. This feature launched in November 2023.
Details
The underlying technology is Meta's Segment Anything Model (SAM), which can identify and isolate any object within a photo with a single tap. Once isolated, the cutout can be saved as a sticker and reused across Reels and Stories. This feature is distinct from the text-prompt sticker generator and was confirmed specifically for Instagram in TechCrunch's November 2023 coverage of Instagram product updates.
Products affected
Instagram StoriesInstagram Reels
Sources & Evidence
Cite this record
Trace Foundation. (2026). Instagram: Instagram lets users take any photo they have uploaded and use AI to cut out any object from it, turning it into a personal sticker — no manual tracing required. This feature launched in November 2023 (data as of 2026-03-23) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/be502e8c-e1b6-4dff-a90e-efe51278c24b. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Stable link
- https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/be502e8c-e1b6-4dff-a90e-efe51278c24b
- Data as of
- March 23, 2026
- Last verified
- March 24, 2026
Other practices by Instagram
OtherInstagram automatically transcribes spoken words in Stories and Reels into on-screen text captions using AI speech recognition. Users add a "Captions" sticker to any video with speech and the text appears automatically. This feature launched on Instagram Stories in May 2021.OtherWhen Instagram users try to change their stated age from under 18 to 18 or older, they may be asked to complete an AI-powered face scan to estimate their age. Separately, Meta uses a background AI system that monitors Instagram account behavior to detect users who may be younger than they claim. Both systems are specific to Instagram's teen safety program.OtherInstagram automatically applies a label — called "AI Info" — to photos, videos, and audio that were created or significantly modified using AI tools. The labels appear on content from Instagram's own AI features as well as from third-party tools like Adobe Firefly and Midjourney. The system launched in May 2024 and has faced criticism for inconsistent application.
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