How does Gradient app work? Plus how to check which celebrity you look like

New viral app shows you what celebrity you look like - but it could cost you 
Before you upload that selfie to Gradient, think about what it could cost you
Duri from Mocup / Unsplash
Amelia Heathman18 October 2019

Forget about FaceApp, there’s a new viral app in town and it's all about your face.

The FaceApp saga, which used AI to predict how people’s faces might age over time, showed us all that people love to see their own face in different settings.

This is something the new app Gradient is looking to capitalise on. Released a few weeks ago, the new app shows you what celebrity you look like. And it’s a big hit already – the app has already been downloaded on the Google Play Store more than 1 million times.

Here’s what you need to know about the new Gradient app.

How does Gradient app work?

The new Gradient app is actually a selfie photo editor, developed by Ticket To The Moon. It uses AI and beautification technologies like those pioneered by Meitu app back in 2017, to do things like resize your eyes and lips, or adjust skin tone and change the colour of your hair.

The celebrity function is in the photo editor section. Users choose a photo of themselves and then the app uses AI to match your face with a celebrity who you supposedly look like. Kim Kardashian got Cher, Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos got Mark Zuckerberg. It’s all fun and games ….

Is it safe to use?

On the surface, Gradient isn’t hit with the issues that FaceApp was when it came to data. According to the app’s privacy policy: “We do not collect or store any other data (including Personal Data) unless you provide it voluntarily. When provided voluntarily, we will not distribute or share your information with any third party without your consent."

This means the app doesn’t appear as bad to use as FaceApp which included in its T&Cs that the company was able to use your name, username, and likeness provided without compensation and FaceApp was free to use this data how it wanted.

However, there is an issue when it comes to paying for the app. In order to use the celebrity feature, you have to buy a subscription to the app, of either £4.99 a week or £19.99 a month. The app promises this pays for weekly updates.

There is a free three-day trial but it still means users have to hand over card information. And they will then be charged for an auto-renewing subscription after the three days.

The reviews on the Apple App Store already point to people pleading with the company to return the money it has taken even though they have cancelled their subscriptions.

How to cancel an App Store Subscription

If you do want to try out Gradient anyway and then immediately cancel the subscription here’s how to do it. You need to ensure you do it within the three-day free trial period otherwise you will be charged.

For iOS, go to Settings and tap iTunes & App Store. Then click on the App ID and sign in the iTunes Store. In Account, scroll down to the Subscriptions box. Then you click on the details of the app and cancel the subscription.

It’s a similar process for Android. Go to the Google Play Store. Tap the Menu and then Subscriptions. Tap Cancel subscriptions and follow the instructions.

However, Google makes it clear that if you have been charged, you will not receive a refund. On Apple, it is possible to request a refund for an app downloaded through the App Store, however, this is usually on in the case that there is a problem with the download and it doesn't work as expected. Being charged for an app you didn't realise was charging you might not fall under this category.

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