Meta is launching AI Mode search on Facebook, which generates answers based on publicly posted content across its platforms, joining rivals like Google in using social data to power AI search results.

What happened: Meta is rolling out AI Mode as a search option on Facebook, alongside traditional modes like "People" and "Marketplace." The feature uses Meta's Muse Spark AI model to generate answers drawn from publicly posted content across Meta's apps, and users can ask follow-up questions on the results. The company is also introducing photo presets that swap sports jerseys onto fans and collage template suggestions.

Why it matters: Meta is competing directly with Google's approach of pulling from Reddit threads for search results and AI overviews. By mining public posts from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, Meta can offer AI-generated answers grounded in what people are discussing across its own social network—turning user-generated content into a training signal for its search feature.

What to watch: Meta says the Muse Spark AI model will "over time unlock new features that cite recommendations and content people share across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads," suggesting the company plans to expand the feature's scope and capabilities beyond the initial Facebook rollout.