Filters and Photoshop move over, artificial intelligence (AI) is the new trend for creating online profile pictures.
This summer, a video got really popular on TikTok. The caption said, “using this trend to get a new LinkedIn headshot.”
In the video, a young lady showed how she looks normally and then showed some professional-looking pictures that she made using a special app called Remini. This app uses smart computer programs to make your pictures look like they were taken by a professional photographer.
With Remini, you need to upload about eight to ten pictures of yourself. It’s best if these pictures are taken from different angles and in good light. The computer program learns from these pictures to understand how you look.
After just a few minutes, it starts making fake pictures of you looking really sharp and even fancy. It changes your hair, puts you in different outfits, and makes sure the lighting looks perfect. It also makes your skin look really nice and even improves your makeup. It even changes the background. Some people find that it makes them look a bit slimmer too.
Some people think the results of this AI photo editing are realistic, while others think they look fake.
Unlike other trends where people play around with their hair or eye color just for fun on social media, this one is all about making your picture look good for job websites like LinkedIn.
Some people really like these AI services because they’re not expensive. Divya Shishodia, a 24-year-old digital marketer from Australia, says that although these headshots are clearly made by a computer, not everyone can afford to get a fancy professional picture taken.
Going to a professional photographer can be pricey, sometimes over £100. But services like Remini and others usually let you try them out for a few days for free.
Ms. Shishodia thinks that while these AI-made photos may not look exactly like real ones, considering the time and effort you save, it’s worth it. She also points out that trying to take a good picture of yourself can be really tricky. You have to get the right angles, lighting, and avoid weird shadows, and that’s something only professional photographers are skilled at.
Michelle Genobisa from Denmark likes that these AI photos are either very cheap or even free. She often changes her look, like her hair color, so this was an easy way for her to get pictures that look like they were taken by a pro photographer without spending a lot of money.
On the other hand, Molly McCrann, an actor from Australia, isn’t as impressed. She thinks the pictures look too fake and it’s obvious they were heavily edited or made by a computer program.
When I posted mine it made me look so skinny, and I don’t look like that.”
Ms McCrann adds that she thinks it is probably better to show prospective employers what you actually look like.
However, she is also prepared to see the other side of the argument. “Someone wrote a comment that I actually agree with – if this company is going to base off looks, I want to get in the room. And if this is going to get me in the room, then I am going to use AI headshots to get the interview.”
But what about the potential impact that AI-improved images can have on our self-esteem? Consumer psychologist Dr Paul Marsden says there are two sides to the issue.
Using AI to enhance our photos can help us present the image of ourselves that we want to show the world. This might also inspire us to embody those qualities in real life, says the expert.
When we meet someone new, we often form quick opinions about them. By using AI-generated photos, people can increase their chances of being considered for opportunities. However, there’s a downside. It might also make some people feel less confident about themselves, thinking they don’t measure up to their AI-altered image.
As for recruiters, Tristan Barthel from Tate Recruitment in London has noticed more people using AI for their pictures. But he says it doesn’t impact how he evaluates a person’s application. He can tell if a picture was made with AI, but it doesn’t affect his decision. He focuses on a person’s qualifications instead.
SOURCE:BBC