Figma Pulls AI Tool Due to Similarities with Apple

Summary:
Figma has temporarily pulled its new generative AI tool, Make Designs, after it created app designs closely resembling Apple’s iOS weather app. Figma CEO Dylan Field took responsibility for the rushed release and defended the company’s AI development approach. Andy Allen, CEO of Not Boring Software, highlighted the issue on social media, warning designers about potential legal trouble.
Figma CTO Kris Rasmussen stated that the company did not train the AI models, which use OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Amazon’s Titan Image Generator G1. This raises concerns that these third-party models might have been trained on Apple’s designs. Rasmussen emphasized that Figma aims to be transparent about its AI training policies, allowing users to opt in or out by August 15th.
Figma plans to review and enhance its bespoke design system to prevent such issues before re-enabling the feature. The company expects to re-launch Make Designs soon, while other AI features remain available in beta. This incident highlights broader industry challenges, as companies like Adobe and Meta also face scrutiny over their AI training practices.