I can stare at beautiful images all day. I actively seek out well-designed spaces and look around in awe. But the creation process from turning those experiences into something tangible is extremely draining to me.
I recently used AI to create a physical photo book and later came across a platform using AI to read the emotional cues behind my images. I wondered how I could find a platform that blends similar tools together.
That’s how I found Popsa, a mobile-friendly platform that uses AI to help turn photos into keepsakes, running on your device to keep your personal memories private.
What is Popsa, and how does it use AI?
Co-founders Liam Houghton and Tom Cohen launched Popsa in 2016, originally an iOS-only app. In 2018, the company launched the Android version of its app. In the year in between, Popsa released its proprietary AI to reduce the time needed to create photo books.
In the company’s early days, it cited that its algorithm processing time could turn a “2-hour design” hassle into “lightning-fast” 0.4-second generation.
Houghton stated that he created Popsa so people could create memories with pride but also with confidence. Providing AI-powered creative capabilities allows you to design something beautiful, even with no prior experience.
“We’ve created a highly simplified user experience,” Houghton says. “AI is leveling the playing field in that respect — our customers find automation empowering because it means they aren’t getting in a muddle and are no longer embarrassed by what they’ve created. We’re offering people self-confidence.”
Popsa uses AI across its photo book creation process and its app, from creating automatic layouts to smart photo cropping, title and caption suggestions and, specific to Popsa’s app, smart albums that AI helps generate so they’re ready to print.
Whereas other apps may upload your photos to the cloud, which can raise privacy concerns, Popsa built smaller AI models that run directly on your phone — this keeps your personal information private since it never directly leaves your device.
Popsa is available in 50 countries, and its services are available across 12 languages.
How to use Popsa for mobile-friendly memory preservation
Popsa is available on iOS and Android as well as the web, so choose which option works for you. I’ll be focusing on the mobile-friendly version for iOS (called Popsa – Print Your Photos) from the App Store, but all are beginner-friendly and pretty accessible to use.
1. Install the app and sign in or create an account. You’ll be prompted for Popsa to access your photos. You can choose from Selected Photos or Allow Access to All Photos. Popsa needs permission for AI to scan photos to both assist and speed up the process without uploading your photos to the cloud.
2. Start a new book and choose the type you’d like to create. AI supports this process by remembering the style you choose and helping provide other suggestions based on that.
3. Add some photos. AI will help organize them for you by grouping similar photos, removing duplicates and surfacing any forgotten shots. In response, you’ll see an auto-built layout where AI has placed your photos onto pages as a suggestion or inspiration, along with curated color themes inspired by your images.
4. Finally, you can review Popsa’s AI-curated design and then use its AI features to help make adjustments or suggestions, including layouts, colors and captions. As you upload more photos to your Popsa design, AI helps organize and familiarize whose face shows up. Once you’re happy with your book, place an order and Popsa will handle printing and shipping your photo book.
For more information on Popsa’s features and generative AI capabilities, there’s more information available on its website.
Who should use Popsa?
With a customer base across a 50-year age range, Popsa was ultimately built to provide intuitive and fast design solutions in support of photo memories. I believe its focus is on the solution it provides its customers, rather than a specific type of person — like how Popsa is designed with human and data privacy in mind.
If you’re not super tech-savvy, don’t consider yourself naturally gifted at design or love the photo-making process… but aren’t interested in the photo book curation and creation process (or maybe just really enjoy the time-saving efficiency that AI can bring to your life), then Popsa is a worthwhile place to start.
