The viral filter of TikTok of the last few weeks, the Bold glamour filter, has been liked and hated by the users of the platform. Some say it boosts their confidence while others simply suggest that the filter is promoting body shaming on the platform. But there is a dark secret behind it.
TikTok’s Bold Glamour filter has gained immense popularity on the app in recent weeks. The filter uses AI-powered tools to make facial transformations harder to detect and better at transforming how people look.
However, the company has kept secret behind the bold glamour filter quiet, despite rolling out a new set of AI filter tools for effects creators last month. These generative AI effects change a user’s facial features in real-time and match their skin, making them seamless. Traditional filters use a 3D model to map a user’s face, which can warp or glitch when obstructed.
Want to know more about the filter? Check out our writing on TikTok bold glamour filter trend.
Bold glamour filter uses the camera’s view of the user’s face and the style TikTok wants to morph the user into. The technology then combines the two sets of images into one, creating the next-level effect. While many TikTok users are impressed with the filter, others are concerned with how it could impact users’ self-esteem and sense of self.
Is TikTok bold glamour filter using generative AI effects?
In February, TikTok announced that effects creators would have access to a handful of generative AI effects that change a user’s facial features in real-time. The new effects include an eyebrow eraser, a lip-puckering effect, and a smiling effect. The generative effects match a user’s skin and are seamless, which is different from how most filter effects have been made until now. Traditional filters use a 3D model to map a user’s face, which can warp or glitch when obstructed.
Bold glamour filter, on the other hand, moves with the user’s face and even adjusts when applied to masculine faces. How? Well, TikTok’s bold glamour uses machine learning technologies, particularly Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), to create its impressive feat. GANs pit two competing neural networks against each other in a “fist-fight to the death”. In the case of bold glamour filter, it’s a competition between the camera’s view of the user’s face and the style TikTok wants to morph the user into. The technology then combines the two sets of images into one, creating the next-level effect.
As we said before, lots of people actually hated the fact that the filter works so flawlessly, making the people feel like they are not beautiful just like you may see on TikTok user @joannajkenny‘s criticism of the filter.
https://www.tiktok.com/@joannajkenny/video/7204538291532664069?embed_source=121331973%2C71011722%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_masking&refer=embed&referer_url=techbriefly.com%2F2023%2F02%2F28%2Fhow-to-get-tiktok-bold-glamour-filter%2F&referer_video_id=7204538291532664069
Fear of the AI usage on social media
Of course, the use of AI-powered face transformations is not limited to social media filters. As technology continues to develop, we may see more sophisticated applications in fields like entertainment, advertising, and even security. For example, researchers have already developed AI-powered systems that can generate realistic deepfake videos, which can be used for malicious purposes like political propaganda or porn, just like we have seen Billie Eilish’s deepfake videos on TikTok a few mounts ago.
In response to these concerns, there is a growing interest in developing technologies that can detect and mitigate the effects of deepfakes and other AI-generated content. This includes techniques like digital watermarking and blockchain, which can help to verify the authenticity of digital content and prevent its unauthorized use.
The development of AI-powered face transformations like Bold Glamour raises important questions about the role of technology in shaping our perceptions of beauty and identity. While these tools can be fun and creative, we must also be mindful of their potential impact on our self-esteem and sense of self-worth.
By being transparent about how these filters work and engaging in thoughtful discussions about their implications, we can help to ensure that technology is used in a responsible and ethical manner.