Lensa AI app's Ts and Cs allow it to 'distribute' your photos without 'any ... trends now

Have you seen a picture of one of your friend's on social media recently where they look like a fairytale character or Renaissance painting?

They may have used Lensa AI - a new app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate a series of avatars using their selfies.

While the 'Magic Avatars' may look cool, there could be some hidden catches in the app's terms and conditions that unsuspecting users accepted without thinking.

After uploading the selfies to the app, Lensa AI gets permission to 'use' and 'distribute' them indefinitely - and without 'any additional compensation'.

While the terms say this is 'solely for the purposes of operating or improving Lensa', cybersecurity expert Jake Moore says that users should be wary.

Speaking to MailOnline, he explained: 'Similar to apps in the past that have requested lots of permissions and access to function, people need to be very aware of what they are allowing these apps to do and even own. 

'By using Lensa you will be granting permission to own the generated photo which will be placed in a database along with potentially other identifiable information. 

'Lensa also appear to have users agree for their generated pictures to be shared with third parties which often people do not realise to be a problem.

'Cybercriminals actively seek to locate such information for illicit use. 

'These databases hold valuable information which can potentially to be used alongside facial recognition technology raising concerns with data theft. 

'Even images that are not selfies will also be owned by the company and could potentially profit from these images. 

'However, this is something that is often the case in other similar apps so it is important to read the terms and conditions before uploading any images.'

The Lensa AI app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store for free and asks users to upload between 10 and 20 selfies.

As well as offering run-of-the-mill photo editing tools, it can also create Magic Avatars of users in just a few minutes, using AI.

According to the company, 'these AI avatars are generated from scratch but with your face in mind'.

Social media users have been sharing their results online, showcasing themselves as anime heroes, watercolour paintings and colourful androids. 

Even some celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon, including Chance the Rapper, Steve Aoki and Britney Spears' husband Sam Asghari.