In Brief Google engineers have created an artificial intelligence (AI) that is capable of turning Google Street View images into professional-quality artistic portraits. The AI chooses and crops the image, alters both light and coloration, and then applies an appropriate filter. Google Art

Most of us are probably familiar with Google Street View; a feature of Google Maps that allows users to see actual images of the areas theyre looking up. Its both a useful navigational feature and one that allows people to explore far-off regions just for fun. Engineers at Google are taking these images from Street View one step further with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Hui Feng is one of several software engineers who are using machine learning techniques to teach a neural network how to scan Street View in search of exceptionally beautiful images. This AI then, on its own, mimics the workflow of a professional photographer.

This AI system will act as an artist and photo editor, recognizing beauty and specific aspects that make for a good photograph. Despite being a subjective matter, the AI proved to be successful, creating professional-quality imagery from Street View images that the system itself located.

Googles many different AI programs have been exploring a wide variety of potential applications for the technology. From recent dabbling in online Go playingto improving job huntingand even creating its own AI better than Google engineers, Googles AI has been at the forefront of its field.

But AI technologies are progressing faster and further than many have expected, so much so that some AI, like the one mentioned here, are capable of creating art. So, while robots will never make humans completely obsolete in artistic endeavors, this step forward marks a new era of technology.

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Google's Newest AI is Turning Street View Images into Landscape Art - Futurism