Google’s face-editing AI tool fuels controversy over visual manipulation

Google's latest foray into the world of artificial intelligence has ignited a fierce debate about the ethical implications of AI-powered image manipulation.

Its face-altering photo tool, designed to provide users with playful and entertaining features for their pictures, has inadvertently raised profound questions about the potential consequences of AI altering our perception of reality.

The recently launched Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro by Google, unveiled last week, stand out from devices by other manufacturers by taking a more advanced approach.

These smartphones employ artificial intelligence to modify individuals' facial expressions in photos.

This functionality proved beneficial in situations where, in a group photo, there's typically one individual who averts their gaze from the camera or neglects to put on a smile.

Google's smartphones now have the ability to scan your photo collection and employ machine learning to select the best expressions from previous pictures, seamlessly integrating them into the current image. This feature is referred to as "Best Take" by Google.

Furthermore, these devices offer users the option to remove, reposition, or resize unwanted elements within a photo, whether they are people or structures, effectively "filling in" the empty space through a feature known as the "Magic Editor."

The Magic Editor relies on a concept known as deep learning, which involves an artificial intelligence algorithm determining the appropriate textures to complete the void by assessing the nearby pixels and drawing upon the knowledge it has gained from the analysis of countless other photos.

What's remarkable is that this functionality isn't limited to photos taken with the device itself. With the Pixel 8 Pro, you can apply the Magic Editor and Best Take to any images in your Google Photos library.

This development has prompted new inquiries from certain observers regarding our approach to photography.

Does Google's recent AI innovation cause manipulation?

Google's recent AI innovation has garnered descriptions from tech analysts and reviewers, ranging from being potentially "icky" (The Verge), "creepy" (Tech Radar), and having the potential to "pose serious threats to people's (already fragile) trust of online content" (Cnet).

Andrew Pearsall, an expert photographer and a senior lecturer in Journalism at the University of South Wales, concurred that the use of AI manipulation posed potential risks.

"One simple manipulation, even for aesthetic reasons, can lead us down a dark path," he said.

Persall explained, "You've got to be very careful about 'When do you step over the line?', adding, "It's quite worrying now you can take a picture and remove something instantly on your phone. I think we are moving into this realm of a kind of fake world."