Remember a few weeks back, when we learned that Google’s artificial neural network was having creepy daydreams, turning buildings into acid trips and landscapes into Magic Eye pictures? Well, prepare to never sleep again, because last week, Google made its “inceptionism” algorithm available to the public, and the nightmarish images are cropping up everywhere.
The “Deep Dream” system essentially feeds an image through a layer of artificial neurons, asking an AI to enhance and build on certain features, such as edges. Over time, pictures can become so distorted that they morph into something entirely different, or just a bunch of colorful, random noise.
Now that the code for the system is publicly available, anyone can upload a photo of their baby and watch it metamorphose into a surrealist cockroach, or whatever. If you need some inspiration, or an excuse to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your face, and wait for the world to end, just check out the hashtag ‘DeepDream’ on your social media platform of choice.
Here are some highlights:
@kcimc this little monster is a half eaten doughnut 😀 https://t.co/zZ5euPgvsF #deepdream
— Dunks (@dunknicoll) July 2, 2015
Well, I’m never eating again. NOPE NOPE NOPE.
The Thing – another #deepdream nightmare. @LaurenAMarsden, generated from pic of Baby: https://t.co/i2bM6pAtuM pic.twitter.com/rWq08W7Mh0
— Eesmyal SantosBrault (@eesmyal) July 5, 2015
This, if you can believe it, used to be an adorable cat.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD #deepdream pic.twitter.com/8P6ZYf5Dab
— God Scorpion (@GoddoSukoupion) July 4, 2015
So that’s what shine’s really about….
https://twitter.com/embed/status/617018112232280064
Is it just me, or does Google have a bit of a dog fetish?
walking in sand #deepdream pic.twitter.com/N4ynU46Mkh
— Kyle McDonald (@kcimc) July 3, 2015
Oh look, the beach seems to have caught a case of chicken pox. NOTHING WEIRD ABOUT THAT.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/616581796256477184
It’s official: Androids dream of creepy insectoid sheep. And I’m done.
You can find plenty more Google dreams over on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google + on the hashtag ‘DeepDream,’ or if you’re feeling particularly brave, you can create your own.
[Google h/t The Guardian]
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Top image via Google
