‘AI is making it easier for AR developers and creators’: Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel

“There’s actually a pretty small number of 3D assets in the world, mostly images or videos. And so, how can we use AI to actually reduce the barrier of creation for those 3D assets? That’s something we’ve been investing a lot in recently to make it easier for creators to build more immersive AR experiences by just reducing that barrier to creation of 3D images and making more exciting and immersive lenses with LLMs,” said Spiegel adding that he did not want to ruin all the surprises coming up at the forthcoming Lens Fest 2023.

The host, Snap APAC president, Ajit Mohan, also asked Spiegel about his thoughts on chatbots, how he envisioned them in the future and where the technology could lead. The CEO asserted that he was particularly excited about the role AI will play in the creation of images and videos.

“I believe we all have a vision in our minds of what we want to create. However, often, the tools are not sophisticated enough to allow us to bring to life the images, videos, or AR experiences we imagine. I think AI will help bridge the gap between our imagination and what we can actually create on our phones or with AR glasses,” he said.

Spiegel said chatbots are likely to become an important medium for people to engage with LLMs and interact with AI. “I am even more enthusiastic about the potential for AI to enhance self-expression and creativity through our cameras and in augmented reality.”

Mohan highlighted the rapid innovation at his company, emphasising the importance of global opportunities, and asked Spiegel to elaborate. The CEO responded that Snap’s creativity comes from community problem-solving, citing Snapchat’s inception as a reaction to the superficiality of social media, and subsequent features like the map aimed at simplifying social interactions.

When asked about his vision for AR and how he sees it evolving in future, Spiegel said that with AR, the company aims to integrate the power of the internet and computing with the real world by enhancing people’s experiences and connections with each other.
“We’re developing AR to move beyond phones to glasses, and we’re excited about the advancements in our spectacles. The future of computing will be more intertwined with our real lives and help foster real-world connections,” he said.
For the uninitiated, Lens Fest is slated for November 9. The fest gives an opportunity to creators to learn and celebrate best-in-class AR with the global creator community.