Vision AI Background removal API availability?

Question

"This feature is now deprecated. On March 31, 2025, the Azure AI Image Analysis 4.0 Segment API and background removal service will be retired. All requests to this service will fail after this date." This API is also not listed in the GA API. Will it return?

Answer 1

Hello Kyle Klassen,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

I understand that you would like to know more about the Vision AI Background removal API availability.

The Azure AI Image Analysis 4.0 Segment API and its background removal service will be retired on March 31, 2025. After this date, any requests to the service will no longer function. Not sure the same will return as you asked - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/computer-vision/concept-background-removal

As an alternative, Florence 2.0, an advanced foundation model within Azure Cognitive Services for Vision, offers a "Region to Segmentation" feature that provides similar background removal capabilities - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-a-renaissance-in-computer-vision-ai-with-microsofts-florence-foundation-model/ and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/computer-vision/concept-background-removal

To transition smoothly, you can utilize Azure Computer Vision, which segments images into foreground and background, generating a mask that highlights the foreground object. This ensures a seamless continuation of background removal tasks. - https://github.com/Azure-Samples/azure-ai-vision-sdk

I hope this is helpful! Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions or clarifications.

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