The Surprise Winner In The Rise Of Generative AI: Digital Frames

Just the mention of digital frames is enough to make most people's eyes roll back in their head. They're the low end of digital technology. The "we can give this to grandma and even she'll understand it" tech.

But here's the thing about digital picture frames, they capture our attention. I've had a Google Hub on my counter for years and I frequently find myself flicking through images as it shows me memories from years ago (or last week). Or if I see something on the photo screensaver on my iMac, I'll pause and watch the slideshow…sometimes until the computer goes to sleep.

There's a reason we take pictures. Our memories are faulty. We want to preserve the moment so that it isn't forgotten. With the rise of social media, that's also added a performative aspect, where we're constantly letting everyone else know just how much fun we're having. But now, with generative AI on the rise, that "hey look at me!" comes with a new price tag.

All those images you've posted online? They're public, which means an AI can scrape them from a search and use them as grist for the image generation mill. Your uncle's nose? Your daughter's eyebrows? Those elements are now the raw materials that AI can use to respond to prompts like "Crying cowboy Mickey Mouse."

How? It's complicated (as Ars Technica reported last year). But the gist is that it’s not unlikely that images that can be seen without a login, without providing credentials, i.e. stuff that you post to public accounts on Twitter or Instagram or Facebook or wherever, can be scraped and used to train generative AI.

Then there's the issue of social media in general being a tire fire of emotional toxicity. In a recent Pew Research Center Study, they found that nearly half of parents are worried about their teens' exposure to social media and teens themselves more often than not consider social media a negative experience (even if they're loathe to give it up).

While removing yourself or your family from social media entirely is an unrealistic goal, connected digital frames can provide a safe space to share photos without judgment.

So, yeah, using digital frames to create curated mini-networks with our family and friends might actually be the balm we need in world where we're worried about sharing but have more to share than ever.

Aura Frames Mason Luxe

The problem, you've got a few thousand photos chilling in cloud storage, gathering virtual dust. You've even arranged them into photo albums…that you never look at. The solution is Aura Frames.

These attractive digital frames come in a variety of price points based on display size, frame resolution, and design. The Mason Luxe sports their highest 2K (2048 x 1536p) resolution and a 9.7-inch display. It has a chunky, architecturally-inspired frame design that's as practical as it is stylish, allowing you to display it in portrait or landscape mode without the need for a kickstand.

Setting up the Aura Frames Mason Luxe takes no time at all. You plug it in, download the Aura app, connect the frame via Bluetooth, and you select images or albums to display from the photo library on your phone (you can also email images to the frame or upload via a web browser). Within minutes, you'll have images proudly displayed. The app interface is clean and easy to use, allowing you to quickly select individual photos or entire albums, even if you have tens of thousands of images. You can even upload short videos (up to 30 seconds). There's a speaker in the back for audio. You don't have to worry about running out of space either. Aura Frames devices connect to their free cloud storage rather than downloading images locally.

Connecting a photo album is my favorite trick though, because as you add pictures or swap images in and out, your frame stays in sync without you having to do anything. The app even has an activity feed so that you can keep track of what's going on with your frame where you can like and comment on images. Image interactivity extends to the frame itself, with touch-sensitive panels on the top and side that allow you to scroll through images quickly and "give them some love" with a little tap.

But don't worry, you're not just talking to yourself. You can easily add additional members to your frame (and they can add you to theirs). Members can add photos to your frame, like photos, and comment in the app. It's like a tiny, curated social media network. The app has recently been updated with some cool tricks as well including an in-app scanner and AI-powered colorizer for printed photos, the ability to request photos, and a leaderboard that shows who's added images (and how many they've added).

The Mason Luxe a good "middle tier" model in the Aura Frames lineup. They have HD display frames that cost a bit less and other 2k displays with more fanciful frames that cost more. I prefer the Mason Luxe with its stylish, freestanding frame and fabric-covered power cord. It’s priced at $249 and is currently on sale for $229 on their website.

Meural Smart WiFi Photo Frame

If you're looking for something bigger, then you should check out Meural's Smart WiFi Photo Frame.

Just like Meural's wall frames, this 15.6-inch countertop model has a gorgeous anti-glare display that makes your photos look like high quality prints. This is despite it being "just" a 1920 x 1080p HD display.

You'll need a Meural account and the Meural app to set up the frame. It's a nice, thin frame, but does have a removable, chunky metal kickstand (it can be wall-mounted as well). Because of its sheer size, the Smart WiFi Photo Frame is instantly eye-catching.

Meural is a lot more than a photo frame, offering a library of over 300,000 carefully curated fine art images. To access everything, you'll need a subscription, but you can use the photo frame just for your own photos without a subscription. Plus, there is a nice selection of fine art images that you can access for free.

Like the Aura app, you can sync up photo albums on your phone and update your frame automatically with new images. Plus you can add other members to your frame (and you to theirs), so they can add photos. As far as social elements go, there's no commenting or liking. Though there is a "collaborative playlist" function that lets you and other frame members curate specific playlists. So more "sharing pics back and forth" than "substitute social network."

The Meural app is the same that you'll use for the larger frames and, therefore, focused more on discovering the cool art that you can display. Granted, it does this with aplomb, providing curated collections that will have you discovering art and artists you never knew existed. Of course, many of these are only available with a subscription and pieces aren't guaranteed to be in the collection forever (adieu Marvel collection).

One thing I do like in the Meural app is the Scheduler. Just like the feature says, you can set up a schedule of image playlists so that you can have your favorite art display in the morning, photos from your recent vacation in the afternoon, then soothing landscapes as you get ready for bed.

The only real stumble for me is the touch-free gesture interface. Theoretically, you can hover your fingers in front of the frame and swipe your way through images loaded onto the frame (no cloud storage here). You can also swipe up and down to see image information. But in practice it can be hit or miss and inevitably ends up with someone smearing their fingers all over the screen anyway.

The frame has 4GB of available storage for images (out of 8GB…it's a shame the onboard OS takes up that much room). Not relying on cloud storage is good for those family members who might not have reliable wifi or can't use the cloud. Just be aware that, if you upload art playlists as well as personal images, that onboard storage fills up fast.

The nearly 16-inch frame looks gorgeous on a countertop and I can attest that it grabs the attention of everyone that sees it. The Smart WiFi Photo Frame is $349 on the Meural site.