FaceApp: a selfie filter in tune with our narcissistic times

The phone app uses 'neural networks' to turn your frown upside down - but the results are nothing to smile about

Sometimes it's hard to work up a smile for the camera. I don't want people to think I enjoy having my picture taken. Even when I slavishly follow an instruction to smile, I try to make sure my eyes betray a little resentment. I may be saying cheese, but my face is saying: I hate cheese.

Luckily, I'll never have to smile for a picture again, because now there's an app for that. FaceApp uses "deep generative convolutional neural networks" to turn your frown upside down. It is meant to be more realistic than previous selfie filters, making subtle adjustments to the eyes and the rest of the face to produce a look of genuine merriment, instead of a cheese-hating grimace.