While exploring one of the many online services offering tools to uncover your roots, I found myself captivated by the AI modification of historical images. What a refreshing experience it was to bring a blush of life to the ever-grey face of my great-grandpa, make him dance, and even hear him talk about how proud he is of his descendants (yes, he meant me—let’s ignore his well-documented grumpiness and Scrooge-like tendencies).
The early development of such practices drew crowds of nostalgia enthusiasts, like myself, to social media. But as the technology rapidly advanced, my excitement began to feel like a roller-coaster ride—headfirst, exhilarating, and a little terrifying. It’s supposed to be fun, right?
Take Your Heritage and Tweak It
Take Marina Amaral a renowned colorist, who has spent years enhancing historical images. She is among those raising concerns about how AI subtly shapes and, at times, distorts our interpretation of history, especially on social media. The conversation grew more urgent with projects like The Warsaw Dream, which sparked extreme reactions—from awe among tech enthusiasts to alarm among historians and educators.
While undeniably fascinating, this project represents a chronological and factual jumble. The lively music of the era may complement some scenes, but it jars unsettlingly when paired with images of the Warsaw Ghetto. Trams adorned with the Star of David roll through the ghetto as if the Holocaust were merely a backdrop to daily life during World War II—an oversimplification that dangerously distorts the gravity of those events. Adding to the confusion, the video includes images from before the war, mixed in without context, and some details, evidently added, are more characteristic of other European regions of the time rather than Warsaw itself.
Personally, the more I dive into history, the more I realize how much I don’t know. Smart AI animation tools, however, lack such humility. They churn out ‘missing’ movie frames based on artificial imagination, and voilà—new versions of the past are scattered across the internet. While often shared for their nostalgic, aesthetic appeal, these creations frequently lack the weight of historical context needed to understand the time and place they depict.
Understanding the Impact of Media
Let’s turn to Marshall McLuhan. Building on his foundational work Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (1964), McLuhan introduced a follow-up publication in 1967 titled The Medium is the Massage. And no, “massage” isn’t a typo. It’s an intentional twist, highlighting how media does more than simply convey content—it massages us. Media shapes our senses, perception, and attention, often leaving us in a state of comfort. While we focus on the content, we tend to overlook how the medium itself influences us on a deeper, more subtle level.
Today’s AI creations are often shared primarily for their sense of wonder or excitement, rather than historical fidelity. Animated photos and projects that recreate the voices of deceased ancestors focus on visual stimulation and emotional reactions. Nostalgia, too, is a powerful trend, drawing in those who long for psychological comfort, a sense of belonging, and meaningful connections in an increasingly fragmented and chaotic reality.
This idea corresponds to Sherry Turkle’s concept of ‘digital intimacy,’ which explores how digital technologies create simulated relationships that feel so real, they can sometimes replace the need for genuine human connections in the physical world. People viewing these AI-generated images and animations often form an emotional bond with the simulation. However, this relationship lacks depth and true understanding. Turkle critiques this phenomenon as a retreat from meaningful relationships—not only with people but also with history—replaced by aesthetically pleasing yet ultimately disconnected versions of reality.
Given the nature of today’s internet, I believe that if written language were ever taken from us, humanity could easily adapt to communicating solely through images—and still remain emotionally fulfilled.
References
Sherry Turkle, Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other (New York: Basic Books, 2011).
Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1964).
Marshall McLuhan, The Medium is the Massage (New York: Bantam Books, 1967).
AI modification of historical images is indeed an interesting development. As you mentioned, the lack of historical context explaining the circumstances of the time and place is indeed very concerning. That said, sometimes it is unavoidable because we simply don’t know enough about a particular historic environment and then it is filled in. I think it would be good to provide context and explanation for all AI-modified historical images about the context and the nuances that can come into play. So I do not think that we will eventually communicate solely through images.