Introduction
In the world of AI and creativity, a new wave has taken the internet by storm. After fascinating everyone with Ghibli-style AI images, ChatGPT has now amazed users by adding colours to old black and white images. This new feature is sparking conversations, debates, and excitement across the globe.
The combination of artificial intelligence and historical photography has opened up new possibilities for both art lovers and tech enthusiasts.
In this blog, we will explore:
How ChatGPT is colouring black and white images
Why it’s causing an online stir
How AI colourisation works
Reactions from artists and historians
The future of AI-generated visuals
Ready? Let’s dive in!
How ChatGPT Adds Colours to Black and White Images
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI (OpenAI Official Website), has evolved beyond text generation. Integrated with powerful image editing capabilities, ChatGPT can now analyze black and white photos and predict the most realistic colours for different parts of the image.
It does this using:
AI image models like DALL·E 3 (learn more about DALL·E 3)
Deep learning algorithms trained on millions of coloured images
Contextual understanding of historical and real-world scenarios
Through a simple prompt, users can ask ChatGPT to restore, enhance, or completely recolour black and white photos into lively, full-colour versions.
Why It’s Causing a Stir Online
The internet loves innovation, especially when it brings history to life. Social media platforms like Twitter (check Twitter trends), Reddit, and Instagram are flooded with examples where ChatGPT beautifully recoloured old family photos, World War II moments, and even early 1900s cityscapes.
This caused a major stir because:
Emotional Connection: Seeing ancestors and history in full colour creates a stronger emotional bond.
Artistic Debates: Some artists argue it “reimagines” history rather than preserving it.
Technology Appreciation: People are amazed at how accurately AI predicts unseen colours.
How Does AI Colourisation Work?
To put it simply, AI colourisation is a two-step process:
Analysis: AI scans the black and white image, identifying objects like faces, skies, clothes, nature, etc.
Prediction and Application: It uses machine learning data to guess realistic colours and applies them in layers.
Some key techniques used are:
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)
GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks)
Reference Matching
A great technical explanation is available on Wikipedia’s Colourization page.
Top 5 Benefits of AI Colourising Old Photos
1. Preserving History in a New Way
AI doesn’t just colour — it revives old memories, making history feel current and personal.
2. Increasing Engagement on Social Media
Posts of AI-coloured historical photos often go viral because they grab attention and spark discussions.
3. Educational Use
Teachers and museums can use AI-coloured images to make learning more interactive and relatable.
4. Family Archiving
Many users are now revamping their old family albums, giving life to precious memories.
5. Artistic Inspiration
Modern artists use recoloured images as inspiration for new art projects, comics, and films.
Public Reactions: Mixed Feelings
The online response has been mixed but passionate.
Positive Reactions
“It’s like seeing history with new eyes!” – said a Reddit user.
Many called it “magical”, “heart-touching”, and “groundbreaking”.
Negative Reactions
Some historians argue that AI could misrepresent historical facts.
Artists debate if recoloured images alter the original artistic intent.
You can see detailed debates on Reddit’s r/technology thread.
Restoring photos in ChatGPT‑4o ⚡️
— Michael Rabone (@michaelrabone) April 23, 2025
My parents asked me if I could restore an old family photo which I did in ChatGPT. The results are impressive and much better than anything I could do in Photoshop.
My Prompt:
Convert this photo to black and white
Make the photo look like new pic.twitter.com/WGSyQC4OLx
Examples of Popular Colourised Images
Here are some cases that went viral:
WWII Soldiers in Full Colour: Photos of soldiers during the war, recoloured to look vibrant and real.
1950s New York Streets: Buzzing life of the city streets felt more lively after colourisation.
Historical Leaders: Colourised images of Gandhi, Churchill, and others brought historical figures closer to today’s generation.
These examples show how AI can reshape our emotional connection with history.
Comparison: ChatGPT vs Other Colourisation Tools
Clearly, ChatGPT leads in ease, accuracy, and customisation!
Ethical Considerations
Ethics in AI are very important when recolouring historical images.
Some concerns include:
Authenticity: Are the new colours true to history?
Permission: Should artists and families approve recolourisation?
Representation: Does adding colour change how we perceive historical events?
Good reads on this: MIT Technology Review article.
Future of AI Colourisation
Experts predict that:
AI will soon allow full video recolourisation of old black-and-white movies.
More personalisation, where users can choose styles (realistic, artistic, vintage).
Integration with VR and AR technology for immersive historical experiences.
We are just at the beginning of this creative revolution!
Conclusion
After winning hearts with Ghibli-style AI images, ChatGPT is now making headlines by adding beautiful colours to black and white photos.
From reviving personal memories to reshaping how we view history, the possibilities are endless.
However, like all technology, ethical use and respect for the original content must always be kept in mind.
The future looks colourful, both literally and metaphorically!
If you want to experience the magic yourself, try using ChatGPT with DALL·E 3 (try here) today!
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