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Retro Revival: How AI Can Turn Modern Cars into Blocky Pixel Art

As a self-proclaimed child of the ’90s, I have a soft spot for low-poly, blocky, and retro everything. When my friend Caleb introduced me to a TikTok filter that transforms cars into 30-year-old digital versions of themselves, I was instantly intrigued. I decided to give it a try, despite having a love-hate relationship with the app.

The Filter: A Wild Ride

The filter, titled "Retro Game," is a curious creature. It’s a neural network that takes an image, applies its magic, and spits out a nostalgic masterpiece. Or, as I like to call it, a "mashup of mediocrity." The filter has an uncanny ability to change the shape of modern cars, turning them into pixelated relics of the past.

A Journey Through Time

I tested the filter on a variety of cars, from a classic Lancia Delta Integrale to a modern-day McLaren Artura. The results were… interesting. The Lancia Delta’s rectangular headlights were replaced by round ones, while the McLaren Artura was turned into a supercar from a bygone era.

A Love Letter to Grand Theft Auto

As I explored the filter’s capabilities, I couldn’t help but think of my favorite gaming franchise – Grand Theft Auto. The filter’s output was eerily reminiscent of the game’s retro aesthetic. The Porsche 993 was transformed into a Pfister Comet, and the Plymouth Superbird remained largely unchanged.

The Dark Side of AI

But not all the results were positive. The filter struggled with curvy vintage cars, turning a priceless Shelby Daytona Coupe into a front-engined Alpine A310. It also had trouble with the Simeone Museum’s motorsports exhibits, effectively turning everything into the side of a castle.

A Conclusion

In conclusion, the "Retro Game" filter is a Wild West of AI creativity, with results ranging from astonishing to baffling. While it’s not perfect, it’s a fascinating exercise in generative AI, and I’m glad I gave it a try. But, as much as I love retro everything, I think I’ll be sticking to my non-AI-enhanced life.

Check out the before-and-after video below, and let me know in the comments what you think of this AI-generated pixel art!