TL;DR:
- EPIK, a photo-editing app, gained the top position on the U.S. App Store with its unique “yearbook” photo feature.
- Users can transform selfies into 90s-inspired yearbook-style portraits using various templates.
- South Korea-based Snow Corporation, a Naver subsidiary, developed EPIK.
- EPIK’s global popularity surges as influencers share their AI-generated yearbook photos on social media.
- It boasts 92.3 million lifetime installs since its August 2021 launch, with India as its largest market.
- EPIK has generated nearly $7 million in consumer spending on iOS, marking its debut in the Top Overall apps in the U.S.
- The app’s “Yearbook” feature requires users to upload 8-12 selfie images, with AI producing 60 different images.
- EPIK provides standard ($3.99) and express ($5.99) delivery options for AI-generated photos.
- High demand leads to delays and “sold out” notices.
- EPIK follows a pattern seen in other AI photo apps, with initial popularity followed by declining user interest.
Main AI News:
In the ever-evolving world of AI apps, a new contender has ascended to the pinnacle of success. Meet EPIK, the photo-editing app that’s currently dominating the App Store charts, thanks to its unique “yearbook” photo feature. EPIK taps into the nostalgia of the 90s, allowing users to transform their selfies into vintage yearbook-style portraits using a variety of templates. Like its AI counterparts, EPIK operates by having users upload a series of selfies, which the app then transforms into charming yearbook photos, showcasing users in various poses, looks, and hairstyles.
This groundbreaking app hails from South Korea-based Snow Corporation, a subsidiary of Naver, the parent company of the renowned AI profile app Snow. EPIK’s meteoric rise began when influencers worldwide started sharing their AI-generated yearbook photos across social media platforms. As of now, EPIK holds the coveted top spot on the U.S. App Store, although it currently ranks 37th on Google Play.
According to Apptopia, a leading market intelligence firm, EPIK boasts an impressive 92.3 million lifetime installs since its debut in August 2021, with 4.7 million downloads in the U.S. However, the app truly gained momentum on September 19, and ten days later, it saw an even more significant surge in popularity. Surprisingly, India is EPIK’s largest market by downloads, with the U.S. coming in at sixth place.
Data.ai, another analytics firm, reports slightly lower lifetime downloads at 82 million but notes that the app has generated nearly $7 million in consumer spending on iOS. Remarkably, this marks the first time EPIK has secured a spot in the Top Overall apps in the U.S., according to data.ai.
Despite these impressive figures, Snow Corp. has remained silent and has not responded to requests for comment to verify the statistics.
A quick glance at the #epik hashtag on Instagram reveals that prominent accounts, including beauty influencers like Samantha Batallanos and Bretman Rock, actor and rapper Tim Chantarangsu, fashion model Eva Mikulski, and popular video creators, are enthusiastically joining the trend of sharing their AI yearbook photos. This includes influencers both from EPIK’s home country and from around the world, like Denyzee, Missou, Romy, Liz Rangel, Hila Klein, Twitch streamer Pokimane, and many others.
To utilize EPIK’s Yearbook feature, users must upload eight to twelve selfie images, which the app then employs to craft the AI-generated photos. The app provides a cautionary note, indicating that EPIK’s AI is continually learning to enhance its results and that not all outcomes will be “satisfactory.” Users are informed that by proceeding, they are agreeing to accept the results.
Additionally, the app advises users to submit clear photos displaying a diverse range of expressions, angles, and backgrounds. After processing the photos, EPIK produces an impressive set of 60 different images. While the app itself can be downloaded for free, users are required to pay for the AI-generated output. Moreover, they have the option to expedite the process by opting for standard delivery ($3.99) with a maximum wait time of 24 hours or express delivery ($5.99), which guarantees photos in under two hours.
However, EPIK’s newfound popularity has come at a cost. Due to overwhelming demand, the app may display messages of delay, citing a rapid increase in users. Users might also encounter “sold out” notices for delivery options, urging them to try again later.
EPIK follows in the footsteps of other AI photo apps with clever features that captured the limelight, such as Lensa, known for its AI-generated “magic avatars,” and Remini, which made headlines this summer for its professional-looking AI headshots. Yet, many of these AI photo apps struggle to sustain user interest after their initial surge in popularity. A report by Apptopia earlier this year revealed that the initial wave of AI photo editors that gained prominence during the winter months had already started to lose consumer attention.
For EPIK, the question remains whether its current high status is merely a fleeting moment in the ever-changing landscape of AI trends, as users eagerly await the next big thing.
Source: EPIK
Conclusion:
EPIK’s meteoric rise in the App Store, marked by its unique yearbook photo feature and global influencer-driven promotion, demonstrates the ever-evolving nature of the AI app market. However, sustaining this level of popularity may prove challenging, as historical trends suggest that AI photo apps often face declining user interest after their initial surge of fame. This underscores the importance of continuous innovation and adaptability in the competitive landscape of AI apps.
