- Google says these filters were designed by professional image makers to work well across skin tones.
- Google released a new skin tone scale aimed at showing search results with images across various skin tones at the Google I/O event.
- Google says this will help users find a new way to filter by relevant skin tones to find more helpful results.
Google today rolled out Real Tone filters for Google Photos on Android, iOS, and web. Google says these filters were designed by professional image makers to work well across skin tones allowing users to choose the filter which suits them the best.
The new Real Tone filters in Google Photos are starting to roll out today on Android, iOS, and web. These filters were designed by professional image makers to work well across skin tones, so you can choose the filter that reflects your style. pic.twitter.com/UwTS4KIodY
— Google Photos (@googlephotos) May 24, 2022
Google earlier this month announced that it was partnering with Harvard professor and sociologist Dr Ellis Monk to release a new skin tone scale aimed at showing search results with images across various skin tones at the Google I/O event.
In partnership with Dr. Ellis Monk, we’re releasing a new skin tone scale designed to be more inclusive of the full spectrum of skin tones — the next step in our commitment to image equity and improving representation across our products. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/oShd3AU9Al
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
The collaboration has resulted in a Monk Skin Tone (MST) scale which is a 10-shade scale that will be incorporated into various Google products over the coming months.
Google says this will help users find a new way to filter by relevant skin tones to find more helpful results.
Now for makeup queries in Google Images, like “everyday eyeshadow” and “bridal makeup looks,” you’ll find a new way to filter by relevant skin tones to find more helpful results. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/Y8t0oXtoqv
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Google says the Real Tone filters are designed to work well across skin tones and evaluated using the MST Scale. Google says “Real Tone filters allow you to choose from a wider assortment of looks and find one that reflects your style.”
Google says updating their approach to skin tone will help them:
- better understand representation in imagery
- evaluate whether a product or feature works well across a range of skin tones
Google claims that this was especially important for computer vision which is a type of AI that allows computers to see and understand images. Google said that computer vision systems, when not built and tested intentionally to include a broad range of skin-tones, have been found to not perform as well for people with darker skin.
“The MST Scale will help us and the tech industry at large build more representative datasets so we can train and evaluate AI models for fairness, resulting in features and products that work better for everyone — of all skin tones,” Google said.
