They Called Us Liars! AI Pioneer Speaks!

Topaz Labs' CEO Eric Yang on AI's next big act.

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The AI revolution isn't slowing down, folks. As someone who's been in photography for decades, I've seen many technological shifts, but none quite as rapid or transformative as what we're experiencing now. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Eric Yang, CEO of Topaz Labs, a company that's been quietly revolutionizing image enhancement through artificial intelligence.

Here's the thing about AI in photography – it's not just about making bad photos good anymore. It's about expanding what's possible with the images we already have. As Eric and I discussed, we're at a fascinating intersection where traditional photography meets cutting-edge AI technology.

One of the most interesting revelations from our conversation was how Topaz Labs approached AI implementation. Back in 2018, when they released Gigapixel AI, they faced significant skepticism. “People would call us liars,” Eric shared, chuckling. “They would just not believe that you could do this.” Fast forward to today, and AI-enhanced images are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

What struck me most during our conversation was Eric's perspective on the future of photography. While many fear AI might replace traditional photography, he sees it as an enhancement rather than a replacement. “The level of image and video enhancement that you'll be able to get in the next year or so is going to be dramatically better than what you can get right now,” he predicted.

The most exciting part? Topaz Labs is working on bringing diffusion models – the same technology powering many generative AI tools – to video enhancement. This could be a game-changer for videographers and content creators who want to maximize the quality of their footage.

About Eric

Eric Yang co-founded Topaz Labs with his father Albert, initially naming the company after an item in the video game Diablo 2. Starting with Photoshop plugins, the company pivoted to AI-powered image enhancement in 2018. Under Eric's leadership, Topaz Labs has processed over 1 billion images and served more than 1 million paid customers.

Before focusing fully on Topaz, Eric worked at Snapdocs (valued at over $1B) and founded PhotoWhoa, a photography deals site. He's now leading Topaz Labs through its next phase of innovation in AI-powered image and video enhancement.

Website: https://www.topazlabs.com
Follow Eric: https://www.instagram.com/yangez

About Topaz Labs

Topaz Labs develops advanced AI tools designed to support photographers, videographers, and digital artists in achieving their creative goals. Their suite of applications, including Photo AI, Video AI, and Gigapixel AI, simplifies complex processes such as detail enhancement and upscaling while maintaining clarity and quality. By focusing on innovative solutions, Topaz Labs aims to provide users with reliable tools to streamline workflows and improve visual results.

Photo AI:

Take your photos to the next level with intelligent AI enhancements that refine details, eliminate noise, and add sharpness with a single click. Perfect for photographers who want incredible results without spending hours editing.

Video AI:

Transform your video projects with the first commercially available AI solution designed to upscale, stabilize, and enhance footage with unprecedented performance. Whether you’re restoring old clips or refining new content, Video AI ensures every frame meets professional standards, delivering unmatched clarity and quality.

Gigapixel AI:

Forget blurry enlargements—Gigapixel AI lets you upscale images with stunning clarity and detail. From big prints to tight crops, this is the ultimate tool for creating jaw-dropping results from any photo.