Snapchat Leverages AI to Enhance Bitmoji Creation, Boost Subscription Revenue
Snapchat is offering users a new way to personalize their digital avatars, while simultaneously bolstering its subscription services. The social media platform has introduced an artificial intelligence-powered feature allowing Snapchat Lens+ subscribers to generate a Bitmoji character based on a photograph.
The new tool aims to simplify the often-tedious process of crafting a Bitmoji that accurately reflects a user’s appearance. Previously, users had to manually adjust various features within the Bitmoji editor. Now, a simple selfie can initiate the creation of a digital likeness, interpreted by Snap’s AI algorithms.
“Lens+ subscribers can use a special AI Lens to style their Bitmoji based on a photo and place it in their Snap,” according to a company release. Users should look for the “Snap the Look” prompt to access the feature, though the number of free generations may be limited.
The Lens+ subscription, priced at $8.99 per month, provides access to Snap’s latest augmented reality (AR) experiments and features. While the AI-generated image doesn’t automatically update a user’s core Bitmoji design, it offers a visual suggestion for improvement.
“The result is an AI-generated image inside your Snap; it does not change the outfit saved to your Bitmoji Closet,” the company clarified. “To update your saved outfit, use the Avatar Designer in Snapchat or the Bitmoji app.” Users can then choose to incorporate elements from the AI-generated image into their existing avatar, striving for a more realistic representation. However, some users may prefer their current Bitmoji, as the AI’s interpretation may not always align with their desired aesthetic.
This new feature represents a strategic move by Snap to increase revenue from subscription services. The company generated $750 million from Snapchat+ subscriptions last year and is actively seeking to expand this revenue stream as growth in advertising slows and even declines in certain markets. New features like this are designed to incentivize users to subscribe to Lens+, driving further intake for the business.
. This strategy highlights a broader trend within the social media landscape, where platforms are increasingly relying on subscription models to diversify income and reduce dependence on advertising revenue.
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