Artist Uses AI to Bring Life to Dead Celebrities
We know of many artists and celebrities who have passed away both unexpectedly and at a young age. Since the loss of young figures from James Dean to Jiles Perry (also known as the Big Bopper), many have wondered what these celebrities would have looked like if their lives weren’t cut short. Now, thanks to AI, it seems we are able to get a glimpse of what could have been.
Istanbul-based lawyer and photographer, Alper Yesiltas, used the power of artificial intelligence to show the public what could have been if some famous celebrities didn’t pass on as young as they did.
In his piece on Bored Panda, Yesiltas opened up about his use of technology with photography and how he could use it to make him happy. So he thought of some of his favorite celebrities who have died young and wanted to see how they could have aged if still alive. He goes on to explain, “I am using various software programs. The time it takes for me to create one fully finished image varies, but I would say it takes a while for an image to feel “real” to me.”
Yesiltas’s project named “As if nothing happened” captures what ten famous celebrities could have looked like if they were still with us today, or at least grew into their elderly years. Upon seeing the photos, it is amazing that one can be allowed to almost forget that they’re looking at people who have been dead for years, if not decades. But Yesiltas isn’t interested in pumping out content quickly, he made it clear in his article with Bored Panda, that this project will not be face paced but with a specific purpose as he wants each image to be as real as possible. As close to feeling as if these photos were taken on location by a photographer, not an artificial intelligence program.
So far the project has the likes of 2Pac, Elvis, Bruce Lee, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Freddie Mercury, Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, Jimi Hendrix, and Michael Jackson. The one that really stands out is the one of Michael Jackson. Yesiltas, in his work, went a step further and didn’t just age him. He also took the time to show us the King of Pop older and without the skin condition vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes the skin to lose pigment cells over time. This condition would go on to haunt Jackson later in his career as his physical appearance do more drastic change over time.
According to Yesiltas, the project is just starting. In the future, he wants to use AI technology to imagine the future and even create an alternative museum. You can keep up with Alper Yesiltas through his Instagram. Five days ago he added his latest entry, the late Princess Diana.
Originally posted on OpenDataScience.com
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