Google’s new visual AI model is surprisingly realistic. Like peeling back layers of bananas to reveal a banana inside, its images look almost too good to be true. The key to its success lies in mimicking the imperfections found on smartphone photos. With a subtle brightness and depth that feels artificially enhanced, these images trick the eye into thinking they were taken with an iPhone camera.
Ben Sandofsky, cofounder of popular app Halide, agrees that aggressive image sharpening is reminiscent of smart phone photos. The model’s attention to detail also includes slightly crunchy textures and flat exposure, further solidifying its resemblance to real-life photography. Even slight inconsistencies, such as distorted streetlights or blocky building facades, become less noticeable when viewed in a social media setting.
This AI-generated image’s uncanny similarity to a phone photo highlights the model’s impressive capabilities. As it continues to improve, users may find themselves questioning what’s real and what’s generated by machine learning algorithms.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/report/837971/google-nano-banana-pro-realistic-phone-photos