SNAPCHAT is testing a new feature that uses your selfies to replace the faces of people in videos. Dubbed Snapchat Cameos, the tool lets you edit stock clips to help you quickly convey an emotion or share a reaction to something. For instance, when payday rolls around, you can react by pasting your face onto […]
SNAPCHAT is testing a new feature that uses your selfies to replace the faces of people in videos.
Dubbed Snapchat Cameos, the tool lets you edit stock clips to help you quickly convey an emotion or share a reaction to something.
For instance, when payday rolls around, you can react by pasting your face onto a short video of someone throwing wads of cash into the air.
Or if you’re feeling sleepy, you can stick your mug on a clip of someone sitting in bed while sheep float over their head.
Cameos can be shared with your mates in Snapchat messages.
Some French users received a test version of the feature over the weekend, as spotted by Snapchat buff @Mtatsis.
C’est la meilleure invention que snap est jamais faite #cameo #snapchat pic.twitter.com/EcRQmGoFsV
— FiLiPpinHo
QLF (@gregv_) December 7, 2019
In a statement, Snap, the company behind Snapchat, confirmed it was testing Cameos in select countries.
It doesn’t appear that the feature is available in the UK or US for now.
“Cameos aren’t ready to take the stage yet, but stay tuned for their global debut soon,” the company told TechCrunch.
The Sun has reached out to Snapchat for further comment.
Cameos is accessed through the Bitmoji button in the Snapchat messaging keyboard.
You’re asked to take a selfie to teach Snapchat what you look like, and then choose whether you want a male or female body type.
The app then uses AI to swap your face onto the heads of actors in a variety of clips no longer than 10 seconds.
Snapchat has already created a bunch of clips that you can swap your face into.
@snapologie Cette fonctionnalité viens d'apparaître sur mon Snap ça s'appelle Caméos pic.twitter.com/F8bIrhbptb
— Arthur
(@gartr268) December 6, 2019
In one, an actor shovels donuts and other sugary snacks into their mouth from a table layered with junk food.
In another, an actor dances while colourful confetti rains from the sky.
The technology behind Cameos echoes that used to make deepfakes – phoney videos that show someone doing or saying something they haven’t.
AI is used to manipulate real footage of someone to make them do whatever the creator wants.
Here's what you need to know...
Last month, a scarily realistic fake video of Jeremy Corbyn backing Boris Johnson to be Britain’s next Prime Minister emerged online.
In it, Corbyn appeared to encourage diehard Labour fans to vote for Johnson at this week’s General Election.
The shock clip was produced by London thinktank Future Advocacy, who hoped to raise awareness about the power deepfakes hold in the spread of fake news.
In another of the firm’s deepfake videos, the roles were reversed, with BoJo backing Corbyn to lead the country.
In a bid to attract more users, Snapchat launched a Snap Games feature earlier this year.
The app has been accused of pushing young women to plastic surgery.
And Snapchat employees have been accused of spying on users by “abusing company tools”.
What do you make of the new Snapchat feature? Let us know in the comments!
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