Exploring Instagram's New Frontier: Early Access Features, AI-Inspired Chat Themes, and Cross-Posting Functionality

Instagram – the visual sharing app owned by Meta – is reportedly gearing up to offer a new pathway for its users to access upcoming features ahead of their official launch, based on recent leaks. Currently, the only way for users to try out pre-release features is by participating in the [Android] Beta program. However, the speculated "early access" could provide an alternative avenue for users to explore features still under development.

An image leaked by developer Alessandro Paluzzi on Threads hints that the early access option might be accessible through the Settings and activity section, appearing as the final item listed under a new section labeled "early access to features".

This initiative could position Instagram to extend to its users the privilege of trying experimental features early on, aligning with practices seen in Google Search Labs and YouTube Experiments.

Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Chat Themes on Instagram

Paluzzi has also uncovered efforts by the platform to deepen the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within its app, potentially allowing users to utilize AI to create custom themes for their chats.

Currently, Instagram offers the ability to modify chat themes using various gradients and colors, alongside offering unique themes. A shared image by Paluzzi showcases a new "Create with AI" option among other chat theme choices like Pickleball, Snack Party, and Minecraft.

A comparable functionality in WhatsApp is also in the talks, which could enable users to customize chats with five preset themes - blue, green (default), grey, red, and purple, changeable through a new theme selector that adjusts chat background color and wallpaper accordingly.

Potential Instagram Cross-Posting Functionality

A recent report indicates that Instagram is in the process of introducing cross-posting capabilities, allowing content to be shared from Instagram to Threads – Meta's microblogging contender against X (formerly Twitter).

This feature, reportedly, will not be activated by default, requiring users to opt-in. The mechanism is believed to function similarly to the existing cross-post feature between Instagram and Facebook.