The 6 Biggest Problems With Using One-Click AI Photo Enhancement Tools

AI photo enhancement tools promise to improve your photos with just one click. However, while these tools are convenient, there are still some problems with using them.

Table of Contents

• 1. Lack of fine-tuned control over edits
• 2. Depends on how AI thinks “better”
• 3. Over-processing and loss of authenticity
• 4. Inconsistent results on different images
• 5. Data privacy concerns
• 6. Overdependence can stunt skill development

1. Lack of fine-tuned control over edits

The appeal of one-click AI photo enhancement tools is their ease of use. You just click a button and your image is instantly improved. This is convenient, but the downside is that they don’t give you a way to tweak the image yourself if you’re not happy with the filters or general adjustments they use.

You can try different AI photo enhancement tools to find your favorite, but you won’t find one that works best on every type of image.

This will be limiting if you already have experience editing images using tools like Adobe Photoshop . Also, if you have a unique perspective on how an image should look, using AI photo enhancement tools for editing is not the answer.

2. Depends on how AI thinks “better”

Like other AI-powered tools, AI photo enhancers rely on pre-trained data from the internet to determine what makes a better photo. That’s problematic because what an AI considers a better photo may not always match your personal preferences.

Besides, it's clear that at this point, AI has limitations, like hallucinations, which is why you shouldn't trust AI to create personalized content. And if you have a personal aesthetic, you won't get that with AI photo enhancement tools.

3. Over-processing and loss of authenticity

Another major drawback of many AI photo enhancement tools is that they can overprocess images. For example, they often smooth out details, making the results look dull and artificial. They can oversharpen images and even remove much of the texture, making the image lose its original charm and authenticity.

If you’re not a photo editing expert, AI photo enhancement tools won’t instantly improve your photos. In fact, they can do the opposite: Make your photos look more AI-like. If you’re okay with that, at the very least, avoid using AI to edit selfies and portraits .

4. Inconsistent results on different images

One-click AI photo enhancement tools can produce good results, but not all images are created equal. The output will vary greatly depending on the composition of different photos.

For example, editing a photo with a clear subject and in good lighting conditions can produce perfect results. However, for photos with poor lighting or complex backgrounds, these tools can smooth out the photo and even add artifacts, resulting in less impressive output.

So the inconsistency means you can’t rely on these tools (whether paid or free) for all your editing needs. In some cases, you’ll be better off editing your photos manually. The point isn’t to use AI to edit your photos for the best results over manual editing. Instead, you can get the best of both worlds by using AI tools for photo editing and manual editing.

5. Data privacy concerns

Most AI photo enhancement tools require you to upload your photos to cloud servers controlled by the platform, which raises concerns about how the photos are stored, what the platform can do with the data, and how long the uploaded files are retained.

If the platform doesn’t automatically delete photos after processing, storing them can lead to privacy issues like misuse. Tools can also use your data to train their models. So, before uploading photos to any of these platforms, check the privacy policy.

6. Overdependence can stunt skill development

While AI editing tools are becoming more popular, learning how to edit photos is still a skill worth learning. It takes time, constant practice, and experimentation. Using AI photo enhancement tools not only stunts your skill development, but also increases your overreliance on them.

When your entire editing process is just uploading a photo to an app or website, clicking a button, and waiting for the results, you’re not learning anything. With automated editing, these tools don’t give you the opportunity to learn how to edit photos. If your goal is to learn how to edit photos, stay away from AI photo enhancement tools.

AI photo enhancement tools can be great if you need to edit photos on the fly. However, they have a number of drawbacks that you should be aware of. Only use them if you’re okay with the issues involved.