Snap has created a lightweight AI text-to-image model that will run on-device, expected to power some Snapchat mobile features in the months ahead. Using an iPhone 16 Pro Max, the model can produce high-resolution images in approximately 1.4 seconds, running on the phone, which reduces computational costs. Snap says the research model “is the continuation of our long-term investment in cutting edge AI and ML technologies that enable some of today’s most advanced interactive developer and consumer experiences.” Among the Snapchat AI features the new model will enhance are AI Snaps and AI Bitmoji Backgrounds.

“By implementing this in-house built technology, we’ll be able to offer our community fast, high-quality AI tools at a lower operating cost,” Snap said in a newsroom post.

While Snap had previously leveraged AI tools from companies including OpenAI and Google to power some of its features, “it has now debuted its own in-house AI model that will allow it to offer unique features to its users,” writes TechCrunch, adding that “it makes sense for the company to invest in AI and develop its own model, especially since nearly every tech company, including Meta, has been doing so over the past few years.”

Neowin reports Snap’s new diffusion model “is designed to be compact yet incredibly fast” and also efficient, having utilized “innovative training techniques, allowing its model to learn from larger AI systems while maintaining its small size.”

Snap says its AI model can produce “stunning visual results by transferring rich representations” from the large-scale diffusion model. PhoneArena notes that “it remains to be seen what other Snapchat AI features the new model will power besides the two mentioned this week.”

Snap shares “soared” this week on the strength of better than expected Q4 earnings, with revenue of $1.56 billion, a 14 percent increase over the previous year’s frame, and 453 million global daily active users, according to CNBC.

Additionally, Snap reported committing $5 million to “‘support communities and team members’ affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires and that it anticipates making ‘further commitments over time,’” CNBC noted.