MyHeritage launches AI service to bring old photographs to life

The genealogy company MyHeritage unveiled an online service using artificial intelligence called Deep Nostalgia to create the illusion of movement from a static portrait. Its purpose is to allow users to upload photos of deceased loved ones and see them ‘in action’, The Verge.

With our new Deep Nostalgia™, you can see how a person from an old photo could have moved and looked if they were captured on video! Read more: https://t.co/ZwUwzJRQ26 #RootsTech #RootsTechConnect pic.twitter.com/LERXhrqiut

— MyHeritage (@MyHeritage) February 25, 2021

The program uses pre-recorded video clips of facial movements and applies the one that best suits the still image in question.

To use Deep Nostalgia, users must sign up for a free MyHeritage account and upload a photo. The algorithm will then automatically enhance the image before animating it and create an animated image in a matter of seconds.

MyHeritage allows free animation of up to five photographs. After reaching the limit, users need to sign up for a paid account. In the FAQ, it states that MyHeritage does not share photos with third parties, and photos uploaded without completing registration are automatically deleted from the service’s database.

Deep Nostalgia quickly became something of a meme generator on Twitter. Social media users pushed the AI to its limits, animating the most unexpected images. For example, one archaeologist used photographs of statues, and Deep Nostalgia delivered.

Alright, I’m joining the game and animating some ancient stuff. This is from the Acropolis Museum in Athens

Kinda fun, though it won’t work on ancient animals! I’ll add more as I get some OK ones pic.twitter.com/AwG9fA99Lj

— Flint Dibble 🍖🏺📖 (@FlintDibble) February 28, 2021

Earlier in December, Britain’s Channel 4 presented a deepfake video of Queen Elizabeth as an alternative Christmas greeting.

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