In the ever-evolving world of digital communication, Snapchat is once again pushing the boundaries of what we can do with our smartphones. The popular image-based messaging app has announced the rollout of its latest AI model, designed to transform footage captured from users’ smartphone cameras into virtually anything their imagination can conjure up. However, users should temper their expectations as the results might appear more than a little wonky, resembling a jittery piece of stop-motion animation rather than a seamless video.
Snapchat is touting these real-time, local generative AI capabilities as a “Milestone,” attributing their success to breakthroughs in optimizing faster, more performant Generative AI techniques. This development is noteworthy, particularly because tech companies have long sought to run power-hungry AI models on small, popular devices. If done right, Snapchat could endear itself even more to its massive user base by making them look cooler than ever before.
For over a year now, Snapchat has been experimenting with AI features. It all began with the less-than-stellar debut of “My AI,” a chatbot that managed to annoy a significant portion of its user base when it was released last April. Nevertheless, the company was not deterred. Snapchat continued to innovate, launching options for paid users to send entirely AI-generated snaps and introducing a feature called “Dreams” for AI-generated selfies.
The leap to coherent video generation, however, remains a significant challenge for AI models, even without the added pressure of real-time constraints. This is uncharted territory, and Snapchat wants its users to be part of this experimental journey. The company plans to release a new version of its Lens Studio, a tool that allows creators to make AR Lenses, which are essentially filters. This updated version will let creators build their bespoke AI models to ‘supercharge’ their AR creations. In other words, Snapchat is offering the keys to the kingdom, encouraging creators to dive in and push the limits of what is possible.
Regular users can look forward to experiencing these AI-powered AR features firsthand through new Lenses that will be rolled out in the coming months. According to TechCrunch, these updates promise a slew of bizarre and captivating videos. It’s not hard to imagine a future where your daily snaps are infused with a level of creativity and weirdness that was previously unimaginable.
In summary, Snapchat’s latest venture into AI is more than just a novelty; it represents a significant step forward in the integration of sophisticated technology into everyday devices. Though the initial results may be rough around the edges, the potential for innovation and creativity is enormous. So, brace yourselves for a deluge of delightfully strange videos and prepare to explore the new frontiers of generative AI on your smartphones. While we may still have a way to go before achieving seamless AI-generated video, Snapchat’s milestone marks a promising start.
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