Meta Aims to Automate All Ads with AI by 2026
Meta Platforms is set to revolutionize digital advertising by fully automating the ad creation process using artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of 2026. This ambitious initiative will allow brands to generate complete ad campaigns—including images, videos, text, and optimized user targeting—by simply providing a product image and budget. Meta’s AI will then determine the optimal ad targeting on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, while also offering budget recommendations. This move is expected to streamline the advertising process and attract direct marketing spend from brands, potentially disrupting traditional advertising and media agencies .
Enhanced AI Tools for Advertisers
Meta has already begun rolling out generative AI-powered features for ad creatives in its Ads Manager. These tools include Background Generation, which creates multiple backgrounds to complement the advertiser’s product images; Image Expansion, which seamlessly adjusts creative assets to fit different aspect ratios across multiple surfaces; and Text Variations, which generates multiple versions of ad texts based on the advertiser’s original copy. These features aim to maximize productivity, personalization, and performance for all advertisers .
AI-Generated Video Ads
In addition to static ads, Meta is introducing AI-edited video ads on Facebook and Instagram. Advertisers can animate still images and expand the background of a video using Meta’s AI tools. For example, a static image can be transformed into a video where elements within the image, like strawberries, slowly float around a jar. This capability allows advertisers to create dynamic video content from existing images, enhancing the visual appeal of their ads .
Investment in AI Infrastructure
To support these advancements, Meta is investing heavily in its AI infrastructure. The company projects capital expenditures between $64 billion and $72 billion in 2025 to expand its AI capabilities . This investment underscores Meta’s commitment to becoming a leader in AI-driven advertising solutions.
Impact on Traditional Advertising
Meta’s push to automate ad creation using AI has raised concerns among traditional advertising firms. Following the announcement, stocks of major advertising firms like WPP, Publicis Groupe, and Havas saw declines of up to 3.9%. However, Meta insists it values the future role of agencies, emphasizing AI’s potential to enhance creative focus and strategic planning rather than replace human involvement entirely .
Looking Ahead
As Meta continues to roll out these AI-driven tools, advertisers can expect a more streamlined and efficient ad creation process. By the end of 2026, businesses will be able to set objectives and budgets, leaving the AI to manage the execution, potentially transforming the landscape of digital advertising.
