News Overview
- CNET writer, Lisa Conant, tested various AI-powered aging apps (FaceApp, AgingBooth, and Remini) to see how she might look in the future.
- She found the results to be surprisingly not as drastic or negative as she initially feared, and even somewhat humorous.
- The article explores the varying degrees of realism and the subjective nature of the aging predictions generated by these apps.
🔗 Original article link: I tried to see how I’ll age using AI. It wasn’t as bad as I thought
In-Depth Analysis
- The article details the author’s experience using three specific AI aging apps: FaceApp, AgingBooth, and Remini. Each app uses different algorithms and techniques to predict facial aging.
- FaceApp: Known for its sophisticated filters, FaceApp provided a relatively realistic, albeit somewhat flattering, prediction. It applied changes like wrinkles, age spots, and softened skin tone.
- AgingBooth: This app produced a more caricature-like and exaggerated result, with more pronounced wrinkles and facial sagging. The author describes it as “the most intense.”
- Remini: Primarily designed for photo enhancement, Remini’s aging filter was described as the least dramatic. It focused on subtle changes and improvements to image quality alongside age-related effects.
- The author noted inconsistencies between the apps. FaceApp’s results felt the most plausible and visually pleasing, while AgingBooth’s felt exaggerated and almost comically aged.
- The article emphasizes that these apps provide entertainment and are not scientifically accurate predictions of individual aging. The results are based on algorithms trained on vast datasets of faces, and individual aging processes are influenced by many factors (genetics, lifestyle, environment) not accounted for in these apps.
Commentary
AI-powered aging apps have captured the public’s imagination, offering a glimpse into a possible future. However, it’s crucial to remember that these apps are primarily for entertainment. The underlying algorithms are complex, but their accuracy is limited by the data they are trained on and their inability to account for individual variables that impact aging. The rise in popularity of these apps does highlight the ongoing interest in AI and its potential to impact how we perceive ourselves and the future. The subjectivity of beauty standards also plays a role, as some of these apps are more generous than others. Long term, this technology could find more serious applications in fields like medical simulations or creating realistic depictions of missing persons who have aged.