AI turns SpongeBob SquarePants into a 1980s live action sitcom and the results are disturbing
Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Technology, YouTube, Film and TV, The Simpsons
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/JolyTool
Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Technology, YouTube, Film and TV, The Simpsons
Artificial Intelligence has overstepped its mark more than once, but this is taking it too far.
If you’re a fan of SpongeBob SquarePants, then you’ve been warned.
It all began when someone decided to turn our little cartoons into a 1980s sitcom - and the results are disturbing.
Take a peek for yourself:
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I mean, it’s no surprise that Elon Musk and other tech chiefs have been concerned about the rapid development of AI.
Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn signed an open letter, demanding all the labs that are training the 'powerful digital minds that no-one – not even their creators – can understand', to stop for at least six months.
It all began when YouTuber JolyTool intentionally caused an absolute mindf**k amongst people by showcasing his AI-designed versions of SpongeBob's beloved characters.
The lineup includes SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Crabs, Plankton and Sandy who have all been reimagined in the form of an 80s sitcom.
It’s pretty good but eerily scary at the same time.
One person commented under the video: "Every one of these looks spot on! Also, Squidward looks like Bill Nighy.”
They’ve got a point. He does look like Bill Nighy.
Another wrote: "I like how the AI tried to put Mr. Crabs face on the dollar, implying that it was an episode of the show that never existed."
While a third viewer also thought: "This is like jazz to me. Extremely abstract and niche but super creative."
Someone else said: "Seeing Plankton sitting there with his wife is disturbing in this version."
"I like how Squidward looks grumpy in the workplace setting, but looks softer and kinder when he has his clarinet," another added.
Hidreley Diao (@hidreley), a contributor to Bored Panda also did the same thing with characters from The Simpsons, and completely ruined my childhood while he was at it.
Reimagining the likes of Moe Szyslak, Milhouse van Houten, Bart Simpson and Ned Flanders, he rendered the yellow cartoons to look like actual people - and it's erringly accurate.
Hidreley explained to Bored Panda: "When we watch some animation, it is natural to accept the cartoonish proportions of the characters without any problems, after all, we are quite used to this type of trait.
"But what if, as in a spell, they became real, flesh and blood?
"I tried to bring them into our world through artificial intelligence."
He added: "I've done some similar posts by other authors here on Bored Panda.
"I wanted to try something out myself, and so I dove into the world of AI. This time, I challenged myself to try to do one on the theme of cartoon characters.
"In terms of how they all turned out, I'm more and more pleased with the results with each post I make."