Snapchat is now making its new Imagine Lens available to everyone for free. This AI feature was first introduced in September, but could only be used by paid subscribers.
With the Imagine Lens, users can create unique images by entering custom prompts or editing photos they have just taken. For example, you can tell the app to turn you into an alien after snapping a selfie, or ask it to create a picture of a grumpy cat. Snapchat says the tool can be useful for trying out Halloween costume ideas or giving friends a completely new look.
After generating the images, users can easily share the results with friends, post them on their Story, or send them outside the app. This wider availability comes at a time when social media platforms are competing for attention with several new AI tools. Meta and OpenAI, for example, have recently launched apps that generate videos using artificial intelligence. OpenAI’s Sora can create videos of a person after receiving a short video and audio recording. Friends can even exchange digital versions of each other and appear together in AI-generated scenes.
Competition like this puts pressure on social platforms such as Snapchat to keep innovating. Allowing free access to its image generation tool helps Snapchat stay relevant and appealing to younger users. Previously, only Lens+ and Snapchat Platinum subscribers could use the Imagine Lens. Now, Snap is offering a limited number of free image generations to all users. At first, this rollout will be available in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions, starting with Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
To try the feature, users can find it near the front of the Lens Carousel inside the Snapchat app or search for it by name. Once selected, they can tap the caption area to enter a prompt or choose from several preset suggestions if they need ideas. Snapchat points out that its community uses Lenses more than eight billion times every day, showing how popular these creative tools have become.
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