Snapchat adds AI tools that turn chats into songs for Lens+ subscribers

The new features expand Snapchat’s paid Lens+ offering with AI-powered tools for creating and editing images, music and other content. Lens+ subscribers can select a message from a chat, choose a musical genre and use AI to generate a song based on the text.

Snapchat said the feature builds on a trend on short-form video platforms in which users turn chat conversations into songs using AI tools.

The company has also introduced AI Photoshoot, which allows users to edit and improve existing images before sharing them. The tool is designed to address common problems such as closed eyes, poor lighting or unwanted expressions.

“Not every great Snap happens with perfect timing,” Snapchat said. “With AI Photoshoot, quickly clean up those almost-favourite photos, whether someone blinked, looked away, got caught making a funny face, or simply stuck in some bad lighting, so you can share the moment you meant to capture without needing to retake the shot.”

Another feature, AI Remix, allows users to recreate images in different contexts. The update also includes AI-enhanced fonts, stickers and textures.

The new tools are available to Lens+ subscribers, while Snapchat+ users are receiving additional features. These include an option to create a 3D model of a home and display it on Snap Map, with users able to customise its appearance for selected contacts.

Snapchat has not disclosed detailed information about the technology behind its AI music-generation feature. The company has existing licensing and commercial relationships with major and independent music industry organisations, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt, BMG, MERLIN, the National Music Publishers' Association and DistroKid.

It remains unclear whether any of these partnerships are connected to the AI song-generation feature.

The expansion comes as social media and technology companies increasingly incorporate generative AI tools into platforms used to create and share music, images and other forms of user-generated content.