NVIDIA RTX's AI-Powered Upscaling Revolutionizes Video Quality

The NVIDIA RTX platform is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to transform video quality through AI-powered upscaling, significantly enhancing image quality and detail, according to a recent post on the NVIDIA Blog.

What Is an Upscaler?

Upscalers are tools that adjust video files to fit higher resolution displays by multiplying pixels. Traditional upscalers often result in over-sharpened and unnatural images due to their simplistic approach. However, the AI-powered upscaling on NVIDIA RTX takes this to a new level by not just multiplying pixels but enhancing the patterns within the image to provide greater detail and quality.

AI Know a Better Way

The process of AI upscaling on the NVIDIA RTX platform involves analyzing images and motion vectors to generate new details not present in the original video. This method effectively de-artifacts images, removing unwanted distortions and anomalies that occur due to overcompression or data loss during transmission and storage. The AI networks on NVIDIA RTX help remove blocky areas often seen in streamed video, ensuring that the upscaling enhances the actual content rather than the artifacts.

Super-Sized Video

NVIDIA's latest innovation, RTX Video Super Resolution, available on GeForce RTX 40 and 30 Series GPUs and RTX professional GPUs, uses AI running on dedicated Tensor Cores to upscale lower-resolution content up to 4K. This feature enhances all video content watched on browsers and popular video apps like VLC, making even low-bitrate streams look stunningly clear. Additionally, creators can use RTX Video Super Resolution in editing apps like Black Magic’s Davinci Resolve to upscale lower-quality video files to 4K resolution and convert standard-dynamic range content into high-dynamic range (HDR).

Say Hi to High-Dynamic Range

RTX Video now also supports AI HDR, which converts standard or low-dynamic-range content into HDR. This process involves AI networks performing the correct tone mapping to ensure that the image still looks natural and retains its original colors, providing a wider range of colors and greater detail, particularly in darker and lighter areas of images.

AI Across the Board

Beyond video streaming, NVIDIA RTX's AI upscaling is also enhancing gaming experiences. Members of the GeForce NOW cloud streaming service can play PC games on nearly any device with improved gameplay quality, thanks to AI-enhanced upscaling. The NVIDIA SHIELD TV further processes AI neural networks directly on its NVIDIA Tegra system-on-a-chip to upscale 1080p-quality or lower content from various streaming platforms to a display’s native resolution.

SHIELD TV is currently available for up to $30 off in North America and £30 or 35€ off in Europe as part of Amazon’s Prime Day event. Eligible purchases in Europe also include a free month of the GeForce NOW Ultimate membership, enabling GeForce RTX 4080-class PC gameplay streamed directly to the living room.

AI has enabled unprecedented improvements in video quality, setting a new standard for streaming experiences.