Indian Social Network Co-Founder Unveils AI-Powered Photo-Sharing App PicSee

Co-Founder of Indian Social Network Koo Launches New Photo-Sharing App Mayank Bidawatka, co-founder of the Indian social network Koo, has released a new photo-sharing app called PicSee. The app, available on both iOS and Android since Thursday, aims to automatically detect and share photos of friends found in users' camera rolls without requiring any messaging system. According to Bidawatka, the idea behind PicSee is to address the problem of personal photo sharing, where friends often forget to send or share photos with each other. "Your friends probably have hundreds of photos of you that you don't have," he said in an interview with TechCrunch. "Either they forgot to send you those photos, or they themselves have forgotten about those photos." Bidawatka claimed that PicSee's technology can scan faces in a user's camera gallery and pick out photos of their friends. The app uses facial recognition technology to identify individuals in the user's camera roll and automatically share them with friends. This approach eliminates the need for users to manually select and send photos, making it easier to share personal moments with loved ones. PicSee is not the first photo-sharing app to capitalize on the idea that Instagram has become too curated. In recent years, apps like Locket, Retro, and Yope have gained popularity by offering alternative ways to share unfiltered photos from camera rolls. However, PicSee's focus on automatic detection and sharing sets it apart from its competitors. Bidawatka, who co-founded Koo in 2020, said that he had been thinking about the problem of personal photo sharing for years before launching PicSee. After announcing the shutdown of Koo last year due to collapsed buyout talks, Bidawatka had time to rethink and redevelop his idea. The launch of PicSee marks a new chapter in Bidawatka's entrepreneurial journey, which has seen him navigate the complexities of social media and photo-sharing technologies. As the app gains traction, it will be interesting to see how users respond to its unique approach to personal photo sharing. Background Koo was an Indian social network that gained popularity for its focus on local languages and communities. However, after a failed buyout attempt last year, the platform announced its shutdown. Mayank Bidawatka's decision to launch PicSee suggests that he is looking to leverage his experience in social media to create new opportunities. Implications The release of PicSee has significant implications for the photo-sharing landscape. By automating the detection and sharing of photos, the app could potentially reduce the amount of time users spend manually selecting and sending images. This could also lead to a more seamless and intuitive way of sharing personal moments with friends and family. As users increasingly seek alternative platforms to Instagram, PicSee's focus on automatic photo-sharing could be an attractive feature for those looking for a more streamlined experience. However, the app's reliance on facial recognition technology raises questions about data privacy and security. Next Developments The launch of PicSee marks the beginning of a new chapter in Bidawatka's entrepreneurial journey. As the app gains traction, it will be interesting to see how users respond to its unique approach to personal photo sharing. With its focus on automatic detection and sharing, PicSee has the potential to disrupt the photo-sharing landscape and offer a fresh alternative to existing platforms. *Reporting by Techcrunch.*