Genie 4 steps into old photos: researcher revisits a lost memory of his late mom
holynski_ · x · 2026-10-28
After a user asked whether Genie could be used to interact with deceased relatives or pets, Google researcher Varun Holynski actually tried it: stepping into an old photo with Genie 4 to relive late-night beach walks with his late mom back home in Puerto Rico.
He notes it's "no substitute for a real memory," but stepping into old photos — especially with family members no longer around — can be cathartic. The demo grew out of a question about combining it with 3DGS, and showcases Genie 4's ability to turn static old photos into interactive scenes in a rare, touching use case.
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