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Harry Potter style

ANDY00

By ANDY00, 1729587162

We all remember the paintings in Harry Potter that are alive with character and feeling. Well, now they’re trying to make something similar in real life with generative AI.

The idea is that you could save the essence of a loved one after they’ve passed away. I’m personally in two minds about this—on one hand, it’s a clever and fun idea. On the other hand, it seems a little weird, especially with predictions that the painting could potentially even text you! That feels like it’s pushing things a bit too far. :-)

A company called Luka has already created a language model trainer that can learn your loved one’s personality from remaining online information, social profiles, text messages, and more. Several other companies are working on image generation through AI systems, which could essentially recreate the Harry Potter-like paintings in real life—keeping your deceased loved ones 'alive' in animated form for eternity.

Now, I’ll admit, as much as I’m not entirely on board with this idea, when my children were growing up, they had a little dog called Jez, who was literally their best friend throughout childhood. Sadly, he died of cancer, and I would love an animated, lifelike painting of him—even if just for the kids, who are now adults.

I imagine there will be very mixed views on this subject, but for the Harry Potter fans out there—Christmas is coming, lol.

But on another side of this coin, it also means that in the future, photography and the resulting photographs could potentially be animated forever—kind of like how some Native Americans believed that photographs could steal your soul. Maybe, in a funny, self-fulfilling way, that idea will come true in the future.

Edited by ANDY00

ANDY00 said, 1729587787

Sorry the system shrunk the font on last line annoyingly here it is - 

But on another side of this coin, it also means that in the future, photography and the resulting photographs could potentially be animated forever—kind of like how some Native Americans believed that photographs could steal your soul. Maybe, in a funny, self-fulfilling way, that idea will come true in the future.

Buddygb said, 1729590795

Not for me and something of a gimmick to my way of thinking.

My deceased loved ones live in my memory and there they shall stay.

When my memory fades, so shall they. 

B.

Edited by Buddygb

ANDY00 said, 1729591165

Buddygb said

Not for me and something of a gimmick to my way of thinking.

My deceased loved ones live in my memory and there they shall stay.

When my memory fades, so shall they. 

B.

Edited by Buddygb

Yeah, as I said, I’m kind of with you on that. But imagine this—what if you could have Robin Williams cracking jokes on your lobby wall or Morgan Freeman narrating your every move in that velvet-smooth voice? That could be interesting, right?

Picture the next generation of kids plastering their walls with pop stars and actors—but, plot twist, the posters are fully animated and interactive, complete with their personalities. Your wall might just have more life than the actual people in the room! :-D

Edited by ANDY00

Orson Carter said, 1729591008

Takes 'tacky' to a new low. A grotesque idea. 

ANDY00 said, 1729591677

Orson Carter said

Takes 'tacky' to a new low. A grotesque idea. 

For us, yes. But for the newer generations coming up, they have a totally different point of view, don’t they? My great grandparents thought a car was a ridiculous waste of money and effort—they couldn’t understand why people wanted them. But things change. :-) they evolve with or without us

And some of this could actually be useful, to be honest. For instance, what if a photography studio had interactive portraits of famous photographers, complete with their knowledge of photography? Or what if lonely kids could have an interactive, realistic friend to talk to, thanks to this technology? I mean, I can see some practical uses for it... I have an open mind.

Edited by ANDY00

Orson Carter said, 1729591481

ANDY00 said

Orson Carter said

Takes 'tacky' to a new low. A grotesque idea. 

For us, yes. But for the newer generations coming up, they have a totally different point of view, don’t they? My great grandparents thought a car was a ridiculous waste of money and effort—they couldn’t understand why people wanted them. But things change. :-) they evolve with or without us


I was merely giving my own opinion. 

ANDY00 said, 1729591838

Orson Carter said

ANDY00 said

Orson Carter said

Takes 'tacky' to a new low. A grotesque idea. 

For us, yes. But for the newer generations coming up, they have a totally different point of view, don’t they? My great grandparents thought a car was a ridiculous waste of money and effort—they couldn’t understand why people wanted them. But things change. :-) they evolve with or without us


I was merely giving my own opinion. 

And it’s completely valid, Orson :-) I do think this will be controversial for many, but there may be some uses people will embrace. I’m not sure about the whole 'bringing back dead people' thing, as I said, but there are other potential uses that I think could be interesting

Allesandro B said, 1729592591

I think those talking portraits in Harry Potter are fantastic, JK Rowling is an utter genius but I wouldn't want one of one of my loved ones.  However there was another moment in the Philosophers stone when Hagrid gives Harry a moving photo album.  I have a few google digital photo frames around the house that randomly display photos they are great but I have often thought I would love it if it could display gifs of my dad waving at me or even saying something.  

 

Edited by Allesandro B

ANDY00 said, 1729593421

Allesandro B said

I think those talking portraits in Harry Potter are fantastic, JK Rowling is an utter genius but I wouldn't want one of one of my loved ones.  However there was another moment in the Philosophers stone when Hagrid gives Harry a moving photo album.  I have a few google digital photo frames around the house that randomly display photos they are great but I have often thought I would love it if it could display gifs of my dad waving at me or even saying something.  

 

Edited by Allesandro B


Yeah, there could be some really interesting uses. Imagine a history class at school filled with interactive portraits of people like Napoleon, Leonardo da Vinci, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Socrates, and others. That could take learning to a whole new, fun level! As I said, while I’m not entirely on board with the idea of bringing back deceased relatives, I’d love an interactive portrait of my kids’ childhood dog. Even though they’re adults now, it would evoke great memories for them—and isn’t that what pictures are for? To bring back memories.

Lol, what if school portraits were interactive? Imagine looking back at your 16-year-old self and actually talking to it as an older person. That could be kinda surreal

 

Edited by ANDY00