What’s new on Instagram search? AI-generated summaries by Meta

If you’ve searched for someone on Instagram lately and noticed a short little description right above their profile, you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not imagining it.

Instagram has quietly introduced a new feature that uses AI to create short summaries when you search for people, topics, or creators. It’s designed to give you a quick sense of who or what you’re looking at without needing to scroll through a bunch of posts.

These summaries show up directly in the search results and give you a quick snapshot.

For example, if you search for a well-known influencer or a trending topic, you might now see a short, one-line description that helps you understand what it’s about. It’s a simple way to get a feel for something before clicking.

But here’s the thing—they’re not written by the person or page. They’re created by Meta’s AI and come with a label so you know it’s auto-generated.

“We’re rolling out Meta AI-generated summaries as a new way to enhance your search results on Instagram and Facebook,” said Meta, confirming the update.

The feature is still being tested with a small group of users, but many people have already started spotting it. It also points to a bigger change that Meta seems to be aiming for, moving away from just endless scrolling and toward a more focused, search-friendly experience.

That shift becomes clearer when you pair this with another recent change. Starting July 10, public posts from business and creator accounts can now appear in Google search results. This means that content you once had to open the app to find could now pop up on the web, reaching a much wider audience. For creators and brands, that’s a pretty big deal.

Say you come across a new skincare brand in a Reel. Instead of clicking on their profile and guessing what they do, the search summary might now say something like, “Vegan skincare brand focused on natural hydration.” It’s just one line, but it gives you a clear idea before you dive in.

These kinds of features suggest Instagram is slowly turning into more of a discovery tool, where information is served alongside visuals. It’s less about endless scrolling and more about helping people find valuable content, quickly and easily.

And in a world where attention spans are short and timelines move fast, that one helpful line might just be what makes someone stop and take a closer look.

It’s still early days, and only time will tell how widely this feature is adopted. But one thing is clear: Instagram isn’t just evolving how we share, it’s quietly changing how we search.

Sci/Tech