Huawei’s latest Pura 70 series smartphone boasts an AI-powered object removal function that enables users to edit images with ease. However, lately, the feature has been under scrutiny for accidentally erasing parts of people’s clothes, leading to privacy concerns.
On the Chinese social network, Weibo, several users have posted videos demonstrating how easy it is to undress someone in an image using the phone’s “smart AI editing” feature. This issue is alarming because it can lead to the misuse and inappropriate sharing of content without the subject’s consent, resulting in privacy violations.
Acknowledging the problem, Huawei’s customer service stated that the issue stemmed from a flaw in their AI algorithm and assured users that it would be resolved in upcoming system updates. Although the company’s move to bring AI tools to phones is commendable, the ability to modify images in such a way raises ethical questions and highlights the potential for AI technology misuse.
This incident underscores the importance of responsible AI development and deployment. AI features that can manipulate images need to be rigorously tested and safeguarded to prevent unintended consequences and potential privacy violations.