AI or “algorithm” upscaling fundamentally creates something out of nothing. That’s what upscaling is, so it is generative because its quite literally generating “guesses” at what should be there, pixel by pixel.
Its literally the trope in movies where they’re reviewing grainy security can footage and someone says “enhance” and its magically a crystal clear image. Its just that we have technology to do that now.
I’d agree there’s a semantics argument that using AI for upscaling is different than creating new, but its just that semantics.
ApollosArrow@lemmy.world 6 days ago
I think those semantics are really important during this time when creatives are at war with ai, so the public is aware of what is what, everything is lumped in together. There is a very big leap between blurry images on CSI TV shows figuring out license plates and taking something from let’s say 1080p and making it 4k. I use upscaling quite often in my line of work and we really do draw a line between something like Topaz and something like Adobe Firefly. Upscalers have also been around since maybe 2015, but they weren’t as advanced or popular to use back then.