Key facts
- Superpose, an iOS app using AI to suggest photo poses, was launched by former TikTok employees Melody Chu and Jing Liu.
- The app has been downloaded over 22,000 times since its July launch.
- Users can generate five poses for free daily, with options to purchase additional generations.
- Superpose aims to focus on capturing real-life moments rather than creating fantastical backgrounds.
- The company has raised $2.2 million in funding from Khosla Ventures, Meitu, and OVTR Ventures.
Two former TikTok employees, Melody Chu and Jing Liu, have launched Superpose, a new iOS application that utilizes artificial intelligence to guide users on how to pose for photographs. The app, which became available in July, aims to assist users in capturing better portrait photos by generating pose suggestions.
Superpose functions as a camera app where users can take selfies or photos of others. The AI then generates four distinct pose options. Users have the ability to save these generated poses or utilize a 'match pose' feature to replicate them within their own photos. The app offers five free pose generations per day, with in-app purchases available for additional generations.
Chu stated that the inspiration for Superpose came from a personal frustration with her husband's inability to take flattering photos of her. She envisioned a solution leveraging advancements in computer vision and generative AI. Prior to co-founding Superpose, Chu held product roles at companies including Meta, Roblox, and Slack, while Liu was an engineer at a 3D face-scanning startup and worked on image and video models at TikTok.
While acknowledging the growing AI-guided photography market, Chu emphasized Superpose's focus on enhancing real-life portrait photography rather than creating AI-generated backgrounds or fantastical scenes. The company is actively working on improving its generation styles, personalization features, and direct coaching capabilities within the viewfinder. Superpose has secured $2.2 million in funding from investors Khosla Ventures, Meitu, and OVTR Ventures.