AI photo enhancers promise to improve your images in just a click. However, despite these tools’ convenience, there are several issues with using them.
1
Lack of Fine-Tuned Control Over Edits
The appeal of one-click AI photo enhancers is their ease of use. You only need to click a button, and your image is instantly enhanced. This is convenient, but the downside is that they don’t provide a way for you to personally fine-tune the image to your liking if you’re not happy with the generalized filters or corrections the tools use.
You can try different AI photo enhancers to find a favorite. However, you won’t find one that performs best across all types of images.
This is limiting if you have experience editing images already using tools like Adobe Photoshop. Additionally, if you have a unique perspective on how an image should look, then using AI photo enhancement tools for editing is not the answer.
2
Dependence on AI’s Interpretation of Better
Like other AI-powered tools, AI photo enhancers depend on pre-trained data from the internet to determine what constitutes a better photo. That’s an issue because what AI sees as a better photo might not always match your individual preferences.
Besides, it’s clear at this point that AI has limitations, like hallucinations, which is why you should not trust AI to generate personalized content. And if you have your preferred aesthetic, you won’t get that using AI photo enhancement tools.
3
Over-processing and Loss of Authenticity
Another big shortcoming of many AI photo enhancement tools is that they can over-process the image. For instance, they commonly smooth out the details, making the result more bland and artificial-looking. They can over-sharpen the picture and even remove a lot of texture, which makes the image lose its original charm and authenticity.
If you’re not a pro at editing photos, AI photo enhancers won’t immediately improve your images. In fact, they can do quite the opposite: making the image look more AI-generated. If you’re okay with that, then at the very least, avoid using AI to edit selfies and portraits.
4
Inconsistent Results Across Different Images
One-click AI photo enhancers can produce good results, but this isn’t the case for all the images. The output will vary greatly depending on the composition of different photos.
For example, editing an image with clear subjects and in good lighting conditions might lead to flawless results. However, for an image with poor lighting or complex background, these tools might smoothen the image and even add artifacts, leading to a bland output.
As such, inconsistency means you can’t rely on these tools (whether paid or free) for all your editing needs. In some cases, you’ll be better off manually editing your images. It isn’t about using AI to retouch photos for the best results vs. manual editing. Instead, you can get the best of both worlds by using AI tools to retouch your pictures and do manual editing.
5
Data Privacy Concerns
Most AI photo enhancement tools require you to upload your image to cloud servers controlled by the owners. As such, it raises concerns about how the photos are stored, what the platform can do with the data, and how long the uploaded files are retained.
Unless the platform automatically deletes the images after processing, storing them can lead to privacy issues like misuse. The tools can also use your data to train their models. So, before you upload an image to any of these platforms, check the privacy policy.
6
Over-Reliance Can Stifle Skill Development
Despite the proliferation of AI editing tools, learning how to edit photos is still a skill worth learning. It takes time, continuous practice, and trial and error. Using AI photo enhancement tools will not only stifle your skill development but also increase your over-reliance on them.
When your whole editing process is uploading an image to the app or site, clicking a given button, and then waiting for the output, you won’t learn anything. With their automated editing process, these tools don’t give you the chance to learn how to edit images. If your goal is to learn to edit pictures, avoid AI photo enhancers like the plague.
AI photo enhancement tools can be great if you need to edit a photo instantly. However, they have various downsides you should beware of. Only use them if you’re okay with the associated problems.
