Koo Co-founder Launches New Photo Sharing App

A New Approach to Photo Sharing: Introducing PicSee

Recent years have seen a rise in photo-sharing applications designed to offer an alternative to the highly curated environments of platforms like Instagram.

These newer apps, such as Locket and Retro, focus on providing spaces for more authentic, unfiltered image sharing.

PicSee: Automatic Photo Sharing with Friends

Mayank Bidawatka, previously the co-founder of the Indian social network Koo – which ceased operations following unsuccessful acquisition negotiations – is now launching a novel photo-sharing application named PicSee.

Released on both iOS and Android this Thursday, PicSee is designed to automatically identify and share photos of your friends directly from your camera roll, bypassing the need for traditional messaging apps like WhatsApp or Instagram.

The Problem PicSee Aims to Solve

Bidawatka observed that friends often possess numerous photos of each other that remain unshared.

These photos may be forgotten about or simply not sent, and PicSee seeks to remedy this situation by scanning your camera gallery for familiar faces.

How PicSee Functions

The app operates by detecting faces within your photo library and selecting images featuring your friends.

If your friends are also PicSee users, you can initiate a sharing request.

Upon acceptance, your initial batch of photos will be sent, and subsequently, the app will identify new photos and prompt you to share them.

Automated Sharing and User Control

Photos are automatically sent after a 24-hour delay if not shared immediately.

Users retain control, with the ability to review and selectively exclude photos before they are transmitted.

All photos are stored locally on your device within PicSee’s storage, and can be downloaded to your device’s main storage.

A recall feature allows users to remove images from the recipient’s PicSee account after sending.

Privacy and Security Measures

The company emphasizes its commitment to user privacy.

Facial recognition processing is performed directly on the device, and encrypted connections are established during photo transmission.

PicSee does not store photos in the cloud, and incorporates a filter to prevent the sharing of Not Safe For Work (NSFW) content, as well as screenshot blocking.

Challenges and Potential Hurdles

A key challenge for PicSee lies in its selective nature.

While continuous photo sharing may be ideal for close relationships, many users may not desire this level of automation with a wider network.

The app must convince users to alter their established habits of sharing photos via existing platforms like WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Beyond Automatic Sharing: Future Development

PicSee acknowledges limitations, such as its inability to address requests for photos taken at specific events.

The company plans to incorporate additional social engagement features, including a chat function already available, allowing comments on individual photos.

Planned Features and Funding

Future updates will include album creation and management, duplicate removal, and integration with Google Photos and iCloud.

The development team also intends to extend its face-detection technology to videos.

Billion Hearts, the company behind PicSee, secured $4 million in funding last year, with Blume Ventures leading the round, alongside contributions from General Catalyst and Athera Ventures.