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People are talking about AI-generated faces (check out this NYT article on the topic https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/21/science/artificial-intelligence-fake-people-faces.html)
Aside from creating fake faces, this tech can also edit the faces of real people with just a couple of clicks.
Let's do an experiment with Harrison Ford.
Aside from creating fake faces, this tech can also edit the faces of real people with just a couple of clicks.
Let's do an experiment with Harrison Ford.
The 2021 version of Adobe Photoshop includes a new feature: "Neural Filters".
These filters put the power of machine learning in the hands of everyone with access to the program.
To demonstrate, I'll use this picture of Harrison Ford in 1982's "Blade Runner".
These filters put the power of machine learning in the hands of everyone with access to the program.
To demonstrate, I'll use this picture of Harrison Ford in 1982's "Blade Runner".
By going to Filter > Neural Filters > Beta Filters and selecting the "Smart Portrait" tab, Photoshop gives you the option to edit the image with a set of sliders that let you change the mood, age, expression, and even the direction of the person's gaze and light source.
The original image is on the left.
The image on the right has the "Happiness" tab set halfway to "happy".
The image on the right has the "Happiness" tab set halfway to "happy".
In this comparison, Harrison's about halfway up the "Anger" slider.
The "Facial Age" works exactly as advertised.
Here I've aged Harrison to the maximum value (50). That turned out pretty accurate, isn't it?
Here I've aged Harrison to the maximum value (50). That turned out pretty accurate, isn't it?
When you get to the "Head Direction" slider, you'll notice that Photoshop might have a more difficult time with the transformation depending on what's in the background of the image.
Still, I think that it did a pretty good job.
Still, I think that it did a pretty good job.
"Light Direction" works as expected. In this case the change isn't super noticeable, but what's remarkable is that it's able to do this in a split second with just a click on the slider.
You can also mix the sliders and have them all on, for example, but that's when you really start to notice the limitations of the tech (and when we enter the uncanny valley).
Here is a very happy, not-at-all-surprised, slightly angry Harrison.
Here is a very happy, not-at-all-surprised, slightly angry Harrison.
Even if the results aren't remarkable in themselves (I'd argue that they are!), what is definitely remarkable is that now anyone can edit images like this with zero skill.
If you have Photoshop, a mouse and can spare a few seconds, you can do this.
If you have Photoshop, a mouse and can spare a few seconds, you can do this.
