Commenting on this story:
At the recent second birthday party of my son, I captured adorable images of a group of children using the new Google software called Best Take. This innovative AI software, integrated into the camera of the $699 Pixel 8 smartphone, allows users to edit the faces in their photos by replacing frowns, closed eyes, or wrong poses with better expressions from other shots they have taken. It’s like having a superpower as a family photographer. However, as amazing as this technology is, I couldn’t help but wonder about the ethical considerations it raises.
While we have had access to Photoshop and other filters for years, Best Take takes our photo editing capabilities to a whole new level. There is something unsettling about using AI to manipulate the faces in our cherished smartphone photos. It further perpetuates the pressure to present only perfect and happy moments on social media, adding to the cultural obsession with portraying an idealistic image of happiness that may not reflect reality.
Currently, Best Take is only available on the Pixel 8 phone, but it can also edit older photos taken with certain other cameras. It wouldn’t surprise me if Google expands this feature to other users of Google Photos in the future, and other companies develop their own face-fixing AI.
Here’s how it works: Best Take scans through a sequence of photos taken in a short period and suggests alternative faces for each individual. Users can then select the best expression from these options, and the software blends it into the original photo using AI. It’s like a quick and easy version of cutting someone’s head out of one photo and sticking it onto another using Photoshop.
As a parent who enjoys sharing photos of my child on social media, there is a certain appeal in seeing my son and his friends looking absolutely adorable in every picture. It’s also empowering to have the ability to choose the perfect expression for each moment. However, I couldn’t help but question whether this is another way for Google to collect our data. According to Google, Best Take doesn’t store faces for any purpose, including AI training, but it does make you wonder about the potential implications.
That being said, Best Take does have some limitations. It requires multiple shots taken in close succession to work effectively, so users have to keep snapping photos to increase their options. Additionally, it doesn’t work on pets, and the results can sometimes be less than perfect, such as distorted faces or cut-off body parts. Google’s product manager, Lillian Chen, explained that Best Take may not work well if there is too much variation in pose or distance between the subject and the camera.
So, how should we feel about this technology? It’s important to recognize that we are already accustomed to edited and enhanced photos. Our smartphones use algorithms to improve various aspects of our pictures, like brightening eyes and teeth or blurring backgrounds. Google itself introduced Night Sight, an AI technology that allows cameras to capture well-lit photos in low-light conditions, even though the human eye would not perceive the same level of detail. This technology has made photography more accessible and has diminished the need for specialized skills.
However, what makes me uneasy about face swapping on phone cameras is the power we are giving to AI over our memories. While some may argue that it’s just another way to capture the perfect moment, it also raises concerns about the perpetuation of societal pressure to conform to a specific standard of beauty and happiness. Who decides which faces are worth editing and which should be left as they are? Google claims that the automated face suggestions in Best Take are based on user desires, but it’s still a form of standardization.
Google also argues that the photos created by Best Take are not entirely fake since the faces used are taken within a few seconds of each other. However, this feels like a slippery slope. If we accept that AI can replace faces in images, what’s to stop it from creating entirely synthetic versions of people in photos from any time? Google has already released other AI photo-editing tools like Magic Eraser, which can remove people or objects from photos. It’s not difficult to imagine a future where we can ask AI to make people in photos look more in love, surprised, or happy.
In all of this, we seem to have lost sight of what a photograph truly represents. Is it simply a record of a single moment, or do we need to reimagine our perspective and stop treating it as a memory? These questions remain unanswered, and it’s up to us to navigate the ethical implications of this technological advancement.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
