Epik’s AI Yearbook App Goes Viral with ’90s-Style Nostalgic Photos
A South Korean app called Epik has taken social media by storm with its AI-generated yearbook photos that transport users back to the ’90s. The app’s popularity surged after the launch of its AI Yearbook tool, allowing users to create authentic-looking high school portraits reminiscent of the era. The tool quickly propelled Epik to the top of both the Apple App Store’s Photo & Video section and Google Play’s photography app charts.
To create these nostalgic photos, users upload 8 to 12 pictures of themselves onto the app. Epik’s AI then processes the images, generating 60 different portraits complete with hairstyles, outfits, and poses that capture the essence of ’90s yearbooks. The backdrops are designed to evoke memories for those who attended high school during that time.
The app offers two payment options: a standard option with a 24-hour wait time for photo delivery priced at 5,500 won ($5.99), or an express service that delivers photos within two hours for 8,800 won ($9.50). Market research firm Sensor Tower estimates that Epik is generating around $250,000 per day in revenue from in-app purchases.
The AI Yearbook feature has created quite a buzz online, with many users sharing their AI-generated photos on social media platforms. Notable personalities such as comedian Yoo Jae-suk, actress Jung Yu-mi, singer Lee Hyo-rim, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, and former Hong Kong athlete Vivian Ma Wing-yu have also joined the trend, adding to its popularity.
While about 90 percent of Epik’s users are from outside South Korea, the company aims to attract a global audience with its AI yearbook feature. Western users might feel nostalgic about recreating their yearbook photos, whereas Asians who are familiar with the concept but never experienced it can have fun imagining themselves in ’90s yearbooks.
Epik is not the only app utilizing AI for photo editing. Line, a Japanese messaging app, has its AI Teens tool that allows users to transform themselves into cool kids, while the Carat: AI Profile photography app creates studio-quality portraits.
However, Epik’s rise has not been without controversy. Some critics have raised concerns about user privacy and data security due to the app’s disclosure practices and lack of transparency regarding information sharing. In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in South Korea has announced a ban on the use of AI-generated portrait photos for national ID cards and passports, citing violations of current guidelines that prohibit the use of manipulated images.
Despite the challenges, Epik continues to dominate the app charts and delight users with its nostalgic AI yearbook photos. As the trend spreads across social media, it is clear that this app has struck a chord with people’s longing for the ’90s, allowing them to indulge in a bit of retro fun and imagine what it would have been like if they had featured in a ’90s yearbook themselves.
