Snap Introduces Revolutionary AI-Powered Image Creation for Mobile

Snap has introduced a new AI text-to-image model designed for mobile devices, which will enhance various features in Snapchat over the next few months. The company announced on Tuesday that this model can generate high-resolution images in approximately 1.4 seconds on an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

This innovative diffusion model operates entirely on the device itself, which helps lower computational costs compared to those that depend on large server infrastructures. Snap emphasizes that the model can deliver “stunning” visual results by effectively “transferring rich representations from large-scale diffusion models to this smaller and more efficient model.”

Snap intends to roll out this technology in the coming months to support the app’s AI Snaps, AI Bitmoji Backgrounds, and additional features.

By utilizing this in-house technology, the company claims it will provide its community with high-quality AI tools while keeping operating costs down.

“Snap has a long history of research excellence in model optimization and efficiency,” the company stated in a blog post. “We are inspired by the industry innovation that is making AI tools more efficient, affordable, and accessible, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to the rapid pace of innovation, particularly for mobile-first experiences.”

While the company did not disclose further specifics about the model, it highlighted that this development is part of its ongoing commitment to AI and machine learning technologies.

Although Snap has previously utilized AI tools from companies like OpenAI and Google for some of its features, it has now launched its own in-house AI model, enabling it to provide unique functionalities to its users. This move aligns with the trend of tech companies, including Meta, investing in AI and developing their own models in recent years.