I Can’t Draw and I Love Google’s AutoDraw
I really can’t draw.
My whole life it’s been something thrown in my face. I can’t even print that well. I struggle with it a lot when I try to design things, but I’m practicing.
Google’s new AutoDraw tool is revolutionary to me. The use of machine learning to create what is essentially predictive sketching. AutoDraw allows users to select a colour and sketch an object with their mouse. It then produces a ‘Do you mean:’ bar with possible alternate sketches (which always look better than what I can do with a mouse) based on what the AI thinks you drew.
You can resize and export your canvas and then use those images in something a bit more sophisticated like Photoshop, Illustrator or Sketch. I see a lot more application for this in Sketch and Illustrator projects depending on the overall style of the project.
The really astonishing part is that it’s so accurate in guessing what you meant to draw. When I say I can’t draw, I mean I cannot draw. I’m incapable of playing Pictionary. But I’ve had a lot of success sketching basic images with AutoDraw and it almost always knows what I’m trying to draw
AutoDraw is crazy to me. I can’t stress this enough — it’s a good example of how far machine learning can go and the everyday applications and uses of well developed AI. I see myself using it pretty frequently in the future, even if not for design related activities, but just because I find it fun.
-Kyle
