As researchers push their limits to develop advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, we have seen several AI tools and systems to improve imaging technology. We have seen AI tools to instantly remove backgrounds from images and de-blur photos. Now, Google has developed two AI-based tools based on diffusion models that can convert low-res images into high-quality photos.
In this process, the CDM model uses one diffusion model to generate data at a low resolution, followed by a sequence of SR3 super-resolution diffusion models. This gradually increases the resolution of a low-res image to its highest resolution. You can check out the GIF attached below to get a better idea of the image generation process.
Other than the two models described above, the researchers at Google AI also developed a new data augmentation technique called conditioning augmentation. It further improves the sample quality results of CDM by using Gaussian noise and Gaussian blur. Moreover, it prevents each super-resolution model from overfitting to its lower resolution conditioning input. It results in better high-resolution sample quality for CDM.
