Wombo, the creators of the widely popular AI-generated art app Dream by Wombo, has launched another innovative AI-powered application called Wombo Me. This new AI avatar app, developed by the Canadian startup, allows users to transform a single selfie into multiple realistic avatars.
While various AI avatar apps exist in the market, such as Lensa AI, Wombo aims to provide users with a more streamlined experience for generating lifelike avatars. Unlike other apps that may necessitate multiple selfies and a waiting period for image generation, Wombo Me stands out by requiring only one selfie and delivering nearly instant results, as explained by Wombo CEO Ben-Zion Benkhin in an interview with TechCrunch.
Designed for entertainment rather than pure functionality, Wombo Me encourages users to share their avatars with friends and on social media platforms, and even suggests potential uses on professional networks like LinkedIn or dating apps like Tinder, combining both professionalism and personality.
The app offers features like trying on the personas of celebrities, movie characters, or superheroes with a simple tap. Users can experiment with different hair colors, styles, makeup trends, and more. Additionally, the app allows for the creation of gender-swapped images or fantastical characters.
Wombo’s head of AI, Parshant Loungani, explained the user experience: “As soon as you install it, the first thing you see is a selfie screen, so it asks you to just provide a single image, and then as soon as you press continue, you see 10 images of you in unique alternate realities. And you can swipe right or swipe left in a Tinder-like experience to like it and save it.”
After reviewing the set of generated images, users can explore various avatar packs featuring images in different styles, including LinkedIn-like headshots, Instagrammable pictures, enchanted characters, cartoon characters, meme characters, and more. Some packs are free, while others are priced at $2.99, $3.99, $4.99, or $7.99.
Benkhin emphasizes that Wombo Me delivers high-quality images comparable to or even surpassing those available in the current market. He believes that the app’s ability to produce such output from just a single image instantly makes it both user-friendly and accessible.
Wombo envisions a more long-term and ambitious plan for Wombo Me, where the capability to generate content from a single selfie is integrated into a broader platform experience. Benkhin sees potential for social interaction, where the AI can learn the appearances of a group of friends and generate imagery of them together, creating content for social platforms.
Looking ahead, Wombo Me may expand its user data requirements, potentially incorporating voice clips and videos for creating multimodal identities. This could open doors to generating diverse content such as dancing videos or interactive experiences with friends.
Benkhin predicts a significant role for AI in media creation, stating, “We think the next stage of this is AI for media creation, and not just curation.” He envisions users increasingly creating AI-generated media for social platforms, with platforms themselves using AI to produce personalized content. According to Benkhin, this represents the next era of social media, presenting a substantial opportunity for innovation.
Wombo Me is available globally on both iOS and Android platforms, marking its official release.
The new app faces high expectations, considering the success of its predecessor, Dream by Wombo, which achieved viral acclaim and was named Google’s “Best App” in the United States last year. Dream by Wombo boasts over 47 million downloads and $4.3 million in gross revenue, ranking No. 30 for downloads in Graphics & Design on the U.S. App Store.
