Instagram Rolls Out BackDrop To Let Creators Replace the Background of Photos With AI
Instagram has rolled out a new AI feature called Backdrop, which it announced last year. This feature allows users to replace the background of a photo with AI in Stories.
When sharing a photo in Stories, users can tap the Backdrop sticker from the sticker tray. They can then select an area of the photo to keep or use an area that Instagram automatically identifies. Next, they can enter a prompt, choosing from populated ones or customized ones.
Two options for the background will be generated, with users having the ability to generate another background option using the same prompt. After selecting an option and sharing the Story, the prompt will be added to the Story as a ‘Try It’ sticker. Viewers can click on the sticker to use the feature themselves.
Why It Matters: Generative AI and social media have almost become synonymous. Platforms like Meta, Snapchat, YouTube, and LinkedIn have continued to add AI features across their app experiences, including generative tools that democratize being a creator.
With Backdrop, users can take existing photos of themselves and place themselves in virtually any location, from national parks to amusement parks to restaurants, through a simple prompt. Much like YouTube’s Dream Screen, this makes content creation more accessible.
The quality of the backgrounds is hit or miss, especially compared to other similar experiences like Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill, but over time, it should get better.
