Smartphone Maker Tecno Takes a Stand Against Skin Tone Bias in Photos [Video]

Smartphone company Tecno has launched its #ToneProud campaign, which seeks to end skin tone bias in imaging technology, an increasingly important issue with the rise of generative AI.

According to a 2018 study from MIT and Stanford University, there is skin-tone bias in some commercial AI systems — a problem that will undoubtedly become worse with the widespread use of AI technology.

Chinese smartphone maker Tecno has therefore launched its #ToneProud campaign to raise awareness about skin tone diversity while introducing the company’s unique 268 skin tone database to consumers. The company says this expansive database of 268 skin tone patches allows TECNO Universal Tone’s algorithms to accurately detect, analyze, and render skin tones in a way that allows everyone to be truly seen in photos. It is a similar to the campaign Google launched back in 2022.

By assigning specific color codes to different skin tones with scientific classification in images, Tecno says it is not only addressing biases in skin …