STUNNING footage of 1911 New York has been brought to life thanks to artificial intelligence that was able to colourise it.
The YouTube video is called 'A Trip Through New York City' and shows what life was like for New Yorkers over 100 years ago.
The footage was originally shot by a Swedish film production company Svenska Biografteatern and includes hot tourist spots like the Statue of Liberty and Fifth Avenue.
YouTuber Denis Shiryaev shared the updated footage on his account.
They wrote in the caption: "Restored with neural networks 1911 New York footage taken by the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern on a trip to America."
Neural network-powered AI algorithms were used to 'upscale' the footage so all the images appear clearer, sharper and coloured.
Tech like this is freely available online, including Topaz Labs' Gigapixel AI and DAIN.
DAIN can enhance the frame rates of older footage, making it appear smoother.
The video in question was first released by the New York-based Museum of Modern Art back in 2018.
It was originally captured just three years before the outbreak of World War I and shows everyday in the famous American city.
New York looked very different back then, with very few cars and horse and carts still trotting along the road.
The fashion of the 1910's is also clear in the footage with men in long jackets and women in long dresses.
Almost everyone is seen wearing a hat.
One of the most striking things about the footage is that, although it's bustling with people, it shows a much calmer and far less busy New York than the one we know today.
What is artificial intelligence?
Here's what you need to know…
- Artificial intelligence, also known as AI, is a type of computer software
- Typically, a computer will do what you tell it to do
- But artificial intelligence simulates the human mind, and can make its own deductions, inferences or decisions
- A simple computer might let you set an alarm to wake you up
- But an AI system might scan your emails, work out that you’ve got a meeting tomorrow, and then set an alarm and plan a journey for you
- AI tech is often “trained” – which means it observes something (potentially even a human) then learns about a task over time
- For instance, an AI system can be fed thousands of photos of human faces, then generate photos of human faces all on its own
- Some experts have raised concerns that humans will eventually lose control of super-intelligent AI
- But the tech world is still divided over whether or not AI tech will eventually kill us all in a Terminator-style apocalypse
In other news, turning Amazon Alexa off is pointless because your entire home is spying on you, experts warn.
The country that becomes the world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030 will rule the world for at least the rest of the century, according to a new report.
And, a grieving mother mother has been "reunited" with her dead daughter again thanks to virtual reality technology.
Are you impressed by the colourised footage of old New York? Let us know in the comments…
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