Phota Labs has released an iOS application that uses artificial intelligence to automatically enhance personal photographs. The tool functions as a virtual assistant, transforming casual snapshots into professional-quality images while maintaining the original identity of the subjects.
The startup was founded by Cecilia Zhang and Zach Xia, both former Adobe employees who worked on projects like Photoshop and Lightroom. The company previously secured $5.6 million in a seed funding round led by a16z.
The application allows users to select various photography styles, ranging from subtle adjustments to significant changes in perspective and lens effects. To ensure transparency, all images processed by the platform include invisible watermarks identifying them as AI-altered.
The founders emphasize that their proprietary technology focuses on preserving authenticity rather than generating new imagery. The app is currently available for free, with plans to introduce a freemium model and an Android version in the future.
