Nvidia is facing criticism over its latest AI-powered technology, DLSS 5, with some game artists and players describing the visual enhancements as “AI slop” and comparing the results to Snapchat filters. The technology, designed to improve visual fidelity in games, has instead generated controversy due to perceived distortions and unnatural character appearances.
The backlash centers around the AI’s impact on character details, with reports highlighting issues like exaggerated facial features – one example cited being a “giga-nostril” on a character in the game Starfield. These concerns emerged after Nvidia unveiled DLSS 5, which leverages artificial intelligence to upscale images and enhance graphics in video games. The update signals growing competition in the AI-driven graphics enhancement sector.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed the criticism directly, stating, “I myself don’t even like AI slop.” He defended the technology, acknowledging the concerns while suggesting that the issues are being addressed. This statement came as gamers shared examples online showcasing what they considered to be undesirable visual artifacts created by the AI.
Reports from Dutch tech sites Tweakers and VRT detail the negative reactions from game artists and players, with complaints ranging from the visuals appearing as “AI slop” to resembling “pornographic faces.” A similar sentiment was echoed by Jeugdjournaal, which described the effect as akin to a Snapchat filter.
Images circulating online, including those from ID.nl, demonstrate the visual changes introduced by DLSS 5 in Starfield, further fueling the debate about the technology’s effectiveness and aesthetic quality.
