Koo cofounder Bidawatka launches AI-based photo-sharing app
Mayank Bidawatka, who cofounded the now-defunct Indian microblogging platform Koo, has launched an artificial intelligence-powered mutual photo-sharing app under his new consumer tech venture Billion Hearts.
The platform, PicSee, soft launched in July with 25 users, has scaled 75 times in under three months, driven by users inviting friends to join the network, Bidawatka said.
The app allows two users to access their photos on each other’s smartphones after giving mutual approval once for automatic exchange of images. It scans the gallery, identifies their photos using facial recognition and sends an invite to access the photos.
“Everyone understands that taking photos is one of the more important activities (using a smartphone) compared to other use cases because it's very personal,” Bidawatka told ET, noting that there are around 5 billion smartphone users globally.
“People don’t share photos with you because they get nothing in return. When there’s something to gain, they’re more willing to do it. That’s the core insight behind building this product,” he said.
More than 150,000 photos have already been shared on the platform, with most of its user base located in India, he said.
The platform currently has users in 27 countries including the US, UK, Japan, Germany and France. The app is available on both Android and iPhone devices. Currently available for free, it is likely to adopt a subscription-led revenue model in the future with more premium features.
The platform, PicSee, soft launched in July with 25 users, has scaled 75 times in under three months, driven by users inviting friends to join the network, Bidawatka said.
The app allows two users to access their photos on each other’s smartphones after giving mutual approval once for automatic exchange of images. It scans the gallery, identifies their photos using facial recognition and sends an invite to access the photos.
“Everyone understands that taking photos is one of the more important activities (using a smartphone) compared to other use cases because it's very personal,” Bidawatka told ET, noting that there are around 5 billion smartphone users globally.
“People don’t share photos with you because they get nothing in return. When there’s something to gain, they’re more willing to do it. That’s the core insight behind building this product,” he said.
More than 150,000 photos have already been shared on the platform, with most of its user base located in India, he said.
The platform currently has users in 27 countries including the US, UK, Japan, Germany and France. The app is available on both Android and iPhone devices. Currently available for free, it is likely to adopt a subscription-led revenue model in the future with more premium features.
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