Hi, I’m Timothy
I am the Product Lead for generative AI in Messenger and Instagram Direct.
Previously, I led teams that brought the privacy, safety, and security of default end-to-end encryption to the billion+ people who use Messenger.
Fun Facts
I live in San Francisco with my partner, Alyssa Guerrero.
I’ve read a book each week since 2016 and list them here.
I enjoy creating ceramic sculptures at our neighborhood pottery studio.
I’m active on Threads @timothybucksf.
Generative AI Work
Meta AI
I support the teams that brings Meta AI to Messenger and Instagram Direct. Meta AI helps you find information fast, connect more deeply with the people that matter to you, and express yourself uniquely with words, images, stickers, and even chat themes. It understand you when you interact with text, images, and voice.
AI Studio
I support the teams that bring AI Studio to Messenger and Instagram Direct. With AI Studio, anyone can create an AI character based on their interests, and creators can build an AI extension of themselves.
Privacy Work
End-to-end Encryption
Project Armadillo began with me and 3 people in a room, and after years of effort from a large team of dedicated and talented people, we brought the privacy, safety and security of default end-to-end encrypted messaging and calling to Facebook and Messenger. More than a billion people can now know that only they and the person they’re talking to have access to their personal conversations.
Privacy Features
I led teams that shipped critical privacy features like—the option to turn off read receipts (so people won’t be able to see when you’ve read messages they send you); Message Delivery Controls (that empower you to decide whose messages reach your Chats list, your Message Request folder, or can’t message or call you at all); and the ability to edit messages after you’ve sent them.
Personal Work
Fitness Totals
Managing your long-term fitness progress is difficult. Fitness Totals simplifies it by emphasizing weekly, monthly and yearly activity totals and making them available in customizable widgets. A couple of friends and I built Fitness Totals for fun, and we’ve been lucky enough to get very positive press from 9to5Mac, TechRadar, iMore, and MacStories, among others.
Decline Stickers
Alyssa Guerrero and I built an iMessage sticker pack that helps you decline with confidence. This little product ranked #1 in Art, #3 in Stickers, and #4 paid overall in the iMessage App Store. Decline was featured by Apple on several occasions.
Apple Plugs
The day Apple launched the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, my friends and I launched Apple Plugs. It’s a parody product and gorilla marketing campaign. Adweek, The Verge, The Atlantic and 60 other publications wrote about it. We were trending on Twitter and hit the front pages of Reddit, Imgur and Product Hunt. We leveraged the buzz to launch Nicer Studio.
Press About My Work
2024
New, more efficient Llama models and nearly 600 million monthly Meta AI users
Engadget—December 6, 20224
@zuck, Engadget, Techmeme
AI backgrounds in Messenger video calling
Newsroom—November 20, 2024
The Verge, TechCrunch, Techmeme
Meta AI expanding to 21 additional countries
9to5Mac—October 9, 2024
Newsroom, The Verge, Techmeme
Meta’s AI assistant can now talk and see the world
Wired—September 25, 2024
Newsroom, Engadget, Techmeme
Create Your Own Custom AI With AI Studio
Newroom—July 29, 2024
@mosseri, Wired, Engadget, Techmeme
Meta AI Is Now Multilingual, More Creative and Smarter
Newsroom—July 23, 2024
TechCrunch, @zuck
Meta AI is now in 12+ countries, powered by its new Llama 3 models
New York Times—April 18, 2024
Newsroom, @zuck, The Times of India, Techmeme
End-to-End Encryption on Messenger Explained
Newsroom—March 28, 2024
Mark Zuckerberg’s new goal is creating artificial general intelligence
The Verge—January 18, 2024
@zuck, The Information, Axios, Techmeme
2023
Security Cryptography Whatever
Podcast Appearance—December 28, 2023
Living in the Future
Newsroom—December 18, 2023
Semafor
Meta starts rolling out default end-to-end encryption for Messenger
TechCrunch—December 7, 2023
Newsroom, White Papers, EFF, Bruce Schneier, Ars Technica, Techmeme
Meta AI adds Reels support and ‘reimagine,’ a way to generate new AI images in group chats, and more
TechCrunch—December 6, 2023
Newsroom, The Verge, Techmeme
Meta is putting AI chatbots everywhere
The Verge—September 27, 2023
Newsroom, BBC, Rolling Stone, Wired, FT, Techmeme
Generative AI stickers are coming to Meta’s apps
TechCrunch—September 27, 2023
Newsroom, The Verge, Techmeme
Expanding Testing for End-to-end Encryption on Messenger
Authored for Newsroom—August 22, 2023
The Verge, TechCrunch, Techmeme
AI and Education
PathCamp Conference Panel—July 18, 2023
Messenger ramps up testing of default end-to-end encryption
TechCrunch—January 23, 2023
Newsroom, The Verge, Engadget, Techmeme
2022
Meta begins testing default end-to-end encryption on Messenger
The Verge—August 11, 2022
Newsroom, TechCrunch, Techmeme
Ways You Can Take Control of Your Privacy
Newsroom—June 22, 2022
Meta’s encryption plan has human rights benefits, report says
The Washington Post—April 4, 2022
Newsroom, Wired, The Register
Meta’s Ongoing Efforts Regarding Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Newsroom—February 26, 2022
Techmeme
Recapping Our Privacy Efforts on Data Privacy Day
Newsroom—January 28, 2022
Updates to End-to-End Encrypted Chats on Messenger
Authored for Newsroom—January 27, 2022
TechCrunch, The Verge, Digital Trends, Techmeme
2021
Meta’s approach to safer private messaging
Newsroom—December 1, 2021
TechCrunch, AdWeek
Facebook is bringing end-to-end encryption to Messenger calls and Instagram DMs
TechCrunch—August 13, 2021
Newsroom, PC Mag, The Verge, Techmeme
Fitness Totals gets a big update with charts, improved widgets, and more
iMore—August 3, 2021
9to5Mac, TechRadar, AppAdvice
Facebook ramps up privacy efforts with end-to-end encrypted audio, video calling trials
ZDNet—June 7, 2021
Safer Internet Day
Engadget—February 9, 2021
Newsroom, Adweek, GQ Italia
MacStories Unwind
Podcast Segment—January 8, 2021
2020
Fitness Totals Review: Effortlessly Surface Fitness Data and Track Your Progress
MacStories—December 22, 2020
Fitness Totals Launch
9to5Mac—December 17, 2020
iMore, BirchTree, 512pixels
Facebook outlines its privacy stance now Instagram & Messenger are one
iMore—September 30, 2020
Newsroom, New York Times, TechCrunch, Techmeme
Facebook's Messenger launches new privacy features
CNET—July 22, 2020
Newsroom, TechCrunch, Engadget, Techmeme
Decline: A Sticker Pack for Saying No, Beautifully
BirchTree—January 7, 2020
MacBreak Weekly
2016 – 2019
Clip sharing with Overcast
Marco.org—April 27, 2019
Apple’s Sarah Herrlinger talks accessibility in new podcast interview
9to5Mac—June 11, 2018
The Talk Show
You Don’t Hear So Much About the iPhone 7 Headphone Jack Anymore
Daring Fireball—February 1, 2017
Greenville Stickers now available on iPhone
Greenville News—September 16, 2016
The Apple Plug is today’s perfect iPhone parody
The Verge—September 8, 2016
AdWeek, Mashable, The Atlantic