Figma Pulls AI Tool After Criticism That It Ripped Off Apple’s Design

Figma’s innovative "Make Designs" tool, which allows users to quickly mock up apps using generative AI, has been temporarily removed following accusations that it produced designs closely resembling Apple’s iOS weather app. This controversy arose when Andy Allen, CEO of Not Boring Software, highlighted the striking similarities in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning designers about potential legal pitfalls.

A Closer Look at the Controversy

Figma CEO Dylan Field addressed the issue in a thread on X, taking responsibility for pushing the team to meet a deadline. He clarified that the AI tool wasn't trained on Figma content or app designs. Instead, the tool used third-party models combined with a custom design system commissioned by Figma, which appears to be at the root of the problem.

In an interview, Figma CTO Kris Rasmussen stated, "We did no training as part of the generative AI features. The features are powered by off-the-shelf models and a bespoke design system that we commissioned, which appears to be the underlying issue." This statement suggests that the similarities to Apple’s designs might stem from the third-party models used, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Amazon’s Titan Image Generator G1.

The AI Models in Question

Rasmussen mentioned that Figma opted not to train its AI tools independently until it could transparently communicate its AI training policies to users. Figma’s recently introduced AI training policies allow users to opt in or out of having their content used for AI training, with a deadline of August 15th for making this decision.

Field further clarified that the Make Designs feature "is not trained on Figma content, community files, or app designs," emphasizing that the accusations around data training were false. However, the issue seems to lie in the "variability" of the design outputs, which was too low, leading to unintended similarities with existing apps.

Addressing the Root Cause and Future Steps

To rectify the situation, Rasmussen stated, "We’re doing a pass over the bespoke design system to ensure that it has sufficient variation and meets our quality standards. That’s the root cause of the issue." He assured that additional precautions would be taken before re-enabling the Make Designs feature to ensure it aligns with Figma’s quality standards and values.

Despite the setback, Figma remains committed to integrating AI into its design tools. Rasmussen hinted at future plans to train Figma’s models to learn general design patterns and specific Figma design concepts, enhancing their utility for professional designers.

Navigating AI Integration Challenges

Figma’s experience underscores the complexities and challenges companies face when incorporating AI into creative tools. This incident follows similar controversies involving other tech giants like Adobe and Meta, which had to address concerns about AI training practices and labeling accuracy.

For now, Figma’s other AI features will remain available in beta, and users can sign up for a waitlist to access them. The company expects to re-enable the Make Designs tool soon, with improvements to prevent future issues.

As Figma navigates these AI integration challenges, it remains dedicated to enhancing its tools while maintaining transparency and user trust. Stay tuned to Kushal Bharat Tech News for the latest updates on Figma’s AI developments and other tech industry news.