📣 Discover the Mind-Blowing World of AI Image Transformation! 🌟

StyleGANEX: Enhancing Image Manipulation with Dilated Convolutions

Good morning fellow AI enthusiast! This week's iteration focuses on StyleGANEX, a new paper published at ICCV 2023 with incredible image manipulation capabilities... as well as our usual insightful ethics commentary by Auxane Boch! We hope you enjoy the read!

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2️⃣📣 Discover the Mind-Blowing World of AI Image Transformation! 🌟

Have you ever wondered how your face would look as a whimsical cartoon or how you could magically change your hair color in a photograph? The cutting-edge technology we're about to explore can make those dreams a reality and take your images to dazzling new heights! 🎨🚀

This most recent video is about a revolutionary AI architecture known as StyleGANEX. Developed by brilliant researchers and showcased at ICCV 2023, StyleGANEX is all about pushing boundaries and shattering limitations.

No more settling for pixelated or low-res images! StyleGANEX elegantly tackles the challenges of flexible input sizes, allowing you to transform any image into a stunning work of art without compromising on quality. 🌈 And the best thing about it is that their code is fully open-source and they have a demo available online (all links in the video description)!

I'll guide you through the power of dilated convolutions, the wizardry that makes StyleGANEX an absolute game-changer in the world of AI image editing. And the best part? You don't need to be a tech expert to understand it all! 🧙🎓

Don't miss out – hit that play button (or read the article) and immerse yourself in the magic of StyleGANEX. And hey, if you're attending ICCV 2023 in Paris, we might cross paths! 🗼

3️⃣ AI Ethics with Auxane - The Ethics of Face Manipulation by AI

Hi fellow AI enthusiasts! 

Today, we delve into the fascinating world of AI-driven face manipulation. This cutting-edge technology holds both great promise and ethical challenges. In this iteration, we will explore, as usual, the positive, and the concerning arising from the technology. Let's dive in!

First, AI can empower creative expression. Let me explain; AI face manipulation can unleash a world of creativity, enabling artists, filmmakers, and content creators to craft imaginative and stunning visuals. It offers a new canvas for expression, pushing the boundaries of artistic innovation. For instance, AI-powered filters and augmented reality (AR) effects on social media platforms empower users to turn their selfies into playful characters or transport themselves to fantastical landscapes. These tools democratise artistic expression, fostering a more inclusive creative community. It can also simply be fun to add some funny filters here and there!

Second, imagine the historic restoration and reconstruction we can do. AI-driven face manipulation can aid in reconstructing historical figures' appearances, shedding light on their lives and achievements. This technology can help experts piece together the faces of long-gone historical figures, contributing to a deeper understanding of the past. An example of this is the digital reconstruction of Tutankhamun's face, which allowed people to glimpse the visage of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh who lived over 3000 years ago. Taking this a step further, this technology can be used to create realistic avatar representation of historical figure, and in less time than it takes to say it, you are having a conversation with Einstein, or Pythagoras. 

Now, as per usual, those fantastic technologies can bring in complex and more obvious ethical concerns. 

Number one, misinformation and deep fakes. AI face manipulation raises concerns about the spread of misinformation and deep fake content. Malicious actors can misuse this technology to create highly realistic videos or images that deceive the public and damage reputations. For instance, a deep fake video of a political leader making inflammatory statements could incite unrest and lead to serious consequences.

Number two, privacy and consent. AI face manipulation challenges the boundaries of consent and personal privacy. Using someone's face without their permission can violate their autonomy and potentially cause harm! Imagine it’s your face you see on that screen, doing things you wouldn’t usually do on top of it, without remembering you ever gave your consent for your image to be used… An extreme exemple is AI-generated "deepnudes," where AI-generated explicit content is superimposed on real people's faces without their consent, raising serious privacy and dignity concerns!

And finally, the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes and biases. AI algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases, as we know, if, for instance, the training data is skewed or contains discriminatory content. This can have severe consequences, especially when used in recruitment or law enforcement. When it comes to face manipulation for esthetic purposes, imagine an AI powered photo filter that would consider “aestetic traits” to be non-inclusive. You can end up with a visible handicap being cropped out of a picture, or a specific ethnicity being made to look like an other. This would be highly discriminatory. 

And as usual, we have to recognize the importance of striking a balance between the potential benefits and ethical concerns surrounding face manipulation by AI. By understanding and addressing these ethical implications, we can harness the power of AI for positive societal impact while safeguarding individual rights and values. You know me now, I’m an optimist. I believe we can do beautiful things with AI face manipulation, and I can’t wait to see where this leads us! 

Stay informed, stay responsible, and remember, responsible AI use is everyone's responsibility.

Until next time,

- Auxane Boch (TUM IEAI research associate, freelancer)

We are incredibly grateful that the newsletter is now read by over 12'000+ incredible human beings counting our email list and LinkedIn subscribers. Reach out to contact@louisbouchard.ai with any questions or details on sponsorships or visit my Passionfroot profile. Follow our newsletter at Towards AI, sharing the most exciting news, learning resources, articles, and memes from our Discord community weekly.

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Thank you for reading, and we wish you a fantastic week! Be sure to have enough rest and sleep!

Louis