- Remini, the top free app in Apple's App Store, is gaining tremendous popularity among TikTokers.
- Many people using it to make AI-generated headshots for LinkedIn are getting impressive results.
A photo app called Remini has gone wildly viral on TikTok, with countless users employing its AI technology to transform casual photos into believable professional headshots.
In one of the most popular videos about Remini, which has more than 31.2 million views, the TikToker @gracesplace revealed her enviable results that one commenter said had them "crying in photographer."
Over the weekend, @Gracesplace, who also showcased her LinkedIn profile in a separate video, submitted a photo of herself in her car. She then used Remini to generate several options of the image that gave her pristine hair, professional makeup, and a blazer.
@gracesplace #CapCut #ai #remini #fypシ ♬ 3:15 (Slowed Down + Reverb) - Russ
Remini was launched in 2019 by the Milan-based tech company Bending Spoons and has quickly skyrocketed into popularity. The #remini hashtag is associated with 1.4 billion cumulative views on TikTok. It's also the No. 1 "Free App" on Apple's charts.
In addition to corporate headshots, Remini has gone viral for another popular use case: AI-generated baby photos that appear to show users what their future children would look like.
White said in another TikTok that she took advantage of a free trial because Remini was subscription-based. She then showed her followers how she used the app to render headshots.
First, users select their gender and are prompted to upload up to ten images of themselves, White said. Then, users select a "model image" that reflects the style and composition of the photos they're after. Categories include "trendy," "Korean aesthetic," "travel," and "curriculum." White chose the latter.
Finally, a swiping function — which is not unlike a dating app — enables users to narrow down their top picks.
@mollie.danielle AI really said, “were gonna make you look spanish”… and im here for it #capcut #AI #foryou ♬ 3:15 (Slowed Down + Reverb) - Russ
And White isn't the only creator going mega-viral with her results. The creator @mollie.danielle has 9.7 million views on her Remini-reveal video from Sunday.
"AI really said, 'we're gonna make you look spanish'… and im here for it," the creator captioned her video.
Commenters also cheered her results: "You're on my FYP and you win the AI filter game," one wrote.
Not everyone is embracing AI photo enhancing or their results, however.
Some said the app edited their bodies to be unrecognizably skinnier
While many TikTokers were thrilled with their new headshots, numerous users pointed out a troubling trend: the app appeared to have substantially changed their weight — with one person saying that the app had shaved off 80 to 100 pounds. Another user said the AI was "fatphobic."
"When you can't use your AI headshots because it took off 80 pounds & everyone would notice," wrote the user @ha.lei.gh on a post documenting her "AI Headshot fail."
@ha.lei.gh When you cant use your AI headshots becaude it took of 80 pounds and everyone would notice… #remini #ai #aifail #aifails #aiheadshot #aiheadshots #funny #fail ♬ 3:15 (Slowed Down + Reverb) - Russ
The 30-year-old mother of two told Insider that she downloaded Remini to update her LinkedIn presence but that the results gave her a laugh and some fitness inspiration.
"It would be nice if there was an option to input your body type to get a more accurate photo," Agan told Insider. "On the flip side, it's great motivation because now I know what I could look like if I put in the work and lose some weight."
@xoxosarah515 #greenscreen the last one SENT ME #ai #aiheadshot #aiphotos #aiapp #aiheadshotgenerator #remini #reminiapp #plussize #plussizecreator #fail ♬ original sound - Mossbot
This sentiment was shared by another user, @katelynnaye, who said she was using her Remini photos as "weight loss motivation."
Other users said they were less inspired because they found the AI default problematic. The TikToker @Northstarnotes said that the app had made her look "about 105 lbs" and that the results were "bad." And @xoxosarah515, who said she was harnessing the app "to get new headshots as a plus sized girly," was similarly disappointed.
A commenter under @xoxosarah515's post wrote, "When even AI is fat phobic smh" — and the TikToker concurred. "It is," she responded, after a series of queasy emojis.
Remini did not immediately respond to a request for comment.