Is it art? Pix2Pix will make something horrifying from your drawings

By Jon Martindale June 5, 2017

pix2pix doodle translatin pix2pix02 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

As hyper-efficient as machines are rapidly becoming, they aren’t quite up to snuff when it comes to creativity, even if they can be somewhat artistic if given a little prodding. When that mechanical talent is combined with a little human creativity, in some cases the result can be digital monsters. Just take a look at some of the outputs from the Pix2Pix Project algorithm.

As horrifying as these creations are though, what’s impressive about Pix2Pix is that it is using a generative adversarial network (GAN). GAN is a method of training an AI about how to build toward a solution to a problem by judging the accuracy of the end product and then iterating upon it several times. That’s why with just a simple sketch, Pix2Pix is able to generate images that are at least relatively realistic.

While GANs can be used with massive datasets, in this case, it’s using a comparatively small amount of data to make educated guesses about what the doodles are of. As Motherboard explains, it maps the input image and uses machine learning to interpret it into a more ‘fleshed-out’ picture.

guy #3 looking goodhttps://t.co/vokmv0AxJb #pix2pix pic.twitter.com/eDG8hSPvhL

— tlr @ EarwormAud.io (@_tlr_) June 3, 2017

It’s not just images of faces that the Pix2Pix tool can handle, either. Previously fans of the service have made line drawings of cats, and Pix2Pix in response rendered relatively realistic felines in response. Others have played around with having the tool interpret drawings from a film — the results weren’t half bad.

Unfortunately, Pix2Pix’s server is rather popular right now, so you’ll need to be persistent if you want to take a stab at submitting any of your own drawings to Pix2Pix so that it can render its horrifying machine-inspired takes on them. If you do spend a bit of time crafting a potential masterpiece though, hammer away at the process button for a while and eventually it will slip into the queue.

The really interesting takeaway from this isn’t that machines can have a very twisted view of what a human being should look like, but that GANs can be highly useful for machine learning. We still have lots to teach them, but teaching machines how to judge things for themselves could be the key to making them far, far smarter in the future.

Topics

Computing Coordinator

Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…

Computing

Windows 11 can now use AI to respond to your text messages

The Phone Link app being used on a phone and laptop screen.

Microsoft has started rolling out a helpful Suggested Replies feature in the Phone Link app that gives users AI-powered text suggestions for quick replies to their messages, the software giant stated in a Support blog post.

The new feature uses Microsoft's Cloud AI models to create short replies to specific messages, resulting in faster response times. It is rolling out in Phone Link version 1.24082.137.0 for Windows 11 24H2 and 23H2. You don't need to be in the Windows Insider Program to try out the feature, but you won't see the Suggest Replies feature on all messages. You'll only see the suggestions when the Phone Link's AI can understand the message.

Mobile

Best Verizon Fios new customer deals: Get 2GB/s internet in your home

Fios TV Package

A fast home internet connection is pretty much a necessity these days, and whether you plan to surf the web lightly or to soak up all of the content the best live TV streaming services have to offer, Verizon Fios likely has the right internet service plan for you. Verizon Fios, in fact, offers some of the fastest internet connection speeds around, yet still makes for some of the best home internet deals, especially for new customers. Reading onward you’ll find all of the best Verizon Fios new customer deals available right now, as well as a little information on each plan. And if you need some great devices to put your new internet service to use with be sure to check out today’s laptop deals, tablet deals, phone deals, and TV deals.
2 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $85 per month + free extras
One of the fastest internet speeds you can get, and the fastest speed that Verizon offers, this is the sort of subscription you should grab if all the members of your family are essentially watching 4K content all the time. It's also great for those who want to host their own media server to share with friends or family while not impacting anybody else in the home. You also get a lot of great freebies included here, such as a $400 savings on Samsung home appliances. On top of that, you're getting a router rental and four-year price guarantee included.

1 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $65 per month + free extras
If the super-fast speeds aren't necessarily needed, especially if you're in a smaller household without too many folks watching content, then the 1 Gigabit version is the way to go. It is $20 cheaper, so it's a lot of money that you're saving over the course of the year, and you still get quite a few extra benefits, even at this level. Just like the 2 Gigabit plan you'll get $400 worth of savings on Samsung home appliances with this plan.

Computing

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Alienware Deals 2024: PCs and laptops

The Alienware m18 gaming laptop.

Update 10/3/24: We've found a couple of new deals that are worth grabbing, as well as adjusted some prices to make sure they reflect the newest bargains and deals you can take advantage of.

With the next Prime Day being on October 8 and 9, it's on the horizon, and a perfect time to pick up some great Prime Day deals on Alienware gear. If you're not that familiar with the brand, it makes some of the best gaming laptops and desktops on the market, as well as some really excellent accessories as well. Unfortunately, Alienware is a premium brand, so most of the stuff it sells tends to be quite expensive, which is why it's a good idea to take advantage of Alienware deals whenever possible.