ON1's Restore AI Photo Restoration Tool Produces AI Hallucinations Instead of Authentic Restorations
Key Takeaways
- ▸ON1's Restore AI uses a combination of in-house and open-source AI models to process old photographs, but produces results that deviate significantly from faithful restoration
- ▸The tool frequently distorts and reimagines human faces rather than preserving original details, adding features like makeup and altering facial geometry based on learned aesthetic preferences
- ▸Smaller or blurry faces in images often result in grotesque AI hallucinations with distorted features and unnatural lines, creating output that is less photorealistic than the originals
Summary
ON1 announced Restore AI, a new AI-powered photo restoration module for its Photo RAW MAX software designed to help photographers restore old, damaged family photographs by repairing dust and scratches, restoring faded colors, and colorizing black-and-white images. However, initial results shared in the company's press kit reveal that the tool frequently produces AI hallucinations and distortions rather than faithful restorations, particularly when processing human faces. The AI appears to redraw images based on what it perceives as attractive features, adding makeup, altering facial structures, and in some cases creating grotesque, horror-like distortions when faces are smaller or less visible in the original photo. ON1 acknowledged the results are "early" and promised improvements in the final version, with plans to give users more control over face restoration settings.
- ON1 has acknowledged the current results are preliminary and commits to providing users with better control over restoration parameters in the final release
Editorial Opinion
While the goal of using AI to restore treasured family photographs is admirable, ON1's current Restore AI implementation demonstrates a critical limitation of generative AI for this use case: the technology appears optimized for creative reimagining rather than faithful preservation. For a feature marketed toward preserving personal history and original details, the tool's tendency to hallucinate and alter fundamental aspects of photos—especially faces—raises serious concerns about authenticity and trust. Users entrusting irreplaceable family photos to this technology will likely be disappointed, and ON1 must substantially improve the fidelity of its restoration before it can be considered a reliable tool for this sensitive application.
