Snapchat’s latest paid perk is an AI Bitmoji of your pet

Snapchat has a new AI-powered perk for subscribers: Bitmoji versions of your pet. The feature, which is unfortunately not called “petmoji,” allows users to snap a photo of their four-legged friend to create a cartoon-like avatar to accompany their Bitmoji in the Snap Map.

Based on screenshots shared by the company, it seems users will be able to choose from a few different variations of the AI-generated images after sharing a photo of their pet. That’s considerably less customization than what you can do with your own human-inspired Bitmoji,though it should allow users to create something that looks similar to their IRL pet. (No word on if Snap could one day introduce branded pet accessories for animal avatars like they do for human Bitmoji.)

The addition is also the latest example of how Snap has embraced AI features in its subscription offering. Since debuting Snapchat+ in 2022, the company has used the premium service to experiment with generative AI features, including its MyAI assistant as well as camera-powered features like Dreams and AI-generated snaps. Snapchat+ has more than 7 million subscribers, the company announced in December.

Elsewhere, Snap added some updates for non-subscribers, too. The app is adding a new template feature to make it easier to edit clips, and new swipe-based gestures to send and edit snaps more quickly. Snapchat will also support longer video uploads for Stories and Spotlight. In-app captures can now be three minutes long, while the app will support uploads of up to five minutes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchats-latest-paid-perk-is-an-ai-bitmoji-of-your-pet-235027028.html?src=rss

A Data Broker Reportedly Tracked Visitors to Jeffrey Epstein’s Island

A data broker compiled a report on the geographical movements of visitors to Jeffrey Epstein’s “pedophile island,” culling it from mobile data that it acquired via unknown means, a new investigation by Wired reveals.

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'This Is a Sputnik Moment': NYC Is Adding AI Metal Detectors to the Subway

NYC Mayor Eric Adams has a new plan to make the city’s subways safe: metal detectors. But these are not just any metal detectors because these detectors come with AI. As for how well they work, it’s not looking so good.

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A Quick Guide to Luna Snow, the Marvel Heroine You've Never Heard Of

Yesterday, Marvel revealed yet another upcoming video game:Marvel Rivals, a team-based multiplayer shooter inspired by the likes of Overwatch and Valorant. But among its roster of stalwarts—X-Men Storm and Magneto, Guardians of the Galaxy members Star-Lord and Rocket, and of course, more than a few assembled…

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Snapchat’s latest paid perk is an AI Bitmoji of your pet

Snapchat has a new AI-powered perk for subscribers: Bitmoji versions of your pet. The feature, which is unfortunately not called “petmoji,” allows users to snap a photo of their four-legged friend to create a cartoon-like avatar to accompany their Bitmoji in the Snap Map.

Based on screenshots shared by the company, it seems users will be able to choose from a few different variations of the AI-generated images after sharing a photo of their pet. That’s considerably less customization than what you can do with your own human-inspired Bitmoji,though it should allow users to create something that looks similar to their IRL pet. (No word on if Snap could one day introduce branded pet accessories for animal avatars like they do for human Bitmoji.)

The addition is also the latest example of how Snap has embraced AI features in its subscription offering. Since debuting Snapchat+ in 2022, the company has used the premium service to experiment with generative AI features, including its MyAI assistant as well as camera-powered features like Dreams and AI-generated snaps. Snapchat+ has more than 7 million subscribers, the company announced in December.

Elsewhere, Snap added some updates for non-subscribers, too. The app is adding a new template feature to make it easier to edit clips, and new swipe-based gestures to send and edit snaps more quickly. Snapchat will also support longer video uploads for Stories and Spotlight. In-app captures can now be three minutes long, while the app will support uploads of up to five minutes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchats-latest-paid-perk-is-an-ai-bitmoji-of-your-pet-235027028.html?src=rss

How to Turn Off Find My iPhone

So you’ve decided to go off the grid with your iPhone. There are legitimate reasons for shutting off Find My iPhone, like when taking in the device for repair or selling it to another party, so this walkthrough is for you.

Read more…

Ernie Hudson on Filming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and the Fan Base

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Snapchat’s latest paid perk is an AI Bitmoji of your pet

Snapchat has a new AI-powered perk for subscribers: Bitmoji versions of your pet. The feature, which is unfortunately not called “petmoji,” allows users to snap a photo of their four-legged friend to create a cartoon-like avatar to accompany their Bitmoji in the Snap Map.

Based on screenshots shared by the company, it seems users will be able to choose from a few different variations of the AI-generated images after sharing a photo of their pet. That’s considerably less customization than what you can do with your own human-inspired Bitmoji,though it should allow users to create something that looks similar to their IRL pet. (No word on if Snap could one day introduce branded pet accessories for animal avatars like they do for human Bitmoji.)

The addition is also the latest example of how Snap has embraced AI features in its subscription offering. Since debuting Snapchat+ in 2022, the company has used the premium service to experiment with generative AI features, including its MyAI assistant as well as camera-powered features like Dreams and AI-generated snaps. Snapchat+ has more than 7 million subscribers, the company announced in December.

Elsewhere, Snap added some updates for non-subscribers, too. The app is adding a new template feature to make it easier to edit clips, and new swipe-based gestures to send and edit snaps more quickly. Snapchat will also support longer video uploads for Stories and Spotlight. In-app captures can now be three minutes long, while the app will support uploads of up to five minutes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchats-latest-paid-perk-is-an-ai-bitmoji-of-your-pet-235027028.html?src=rss

How to Turn Off Find My iPhone

So you’ve decided to go off the grid with your iPhone. There are legitimate reasons for shutting off Find My iPhone, like when taking in the device for repair or selling it to another party, so this walkthrough is for you.

Read more…

Enter the World of How To Train Your Dragon at Universal's Epic Universe

Soar with Toothless and Hiccup at Universal Epic Universe, which will soon boast an imaginative world of Vikings inspired by DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon. Details for the Isle of Berk area, one of the five new cinematic portals of Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, have just been revealed—and if you’re a…

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