
That moment when you're settling in to watch a classic episode of The Sullivans or A Country Practice on your shiny new 75-inch TV, only to discover it looks like someone's smeared Vaseline across the screen? We've all been there.
The good news is that artificial intelligence is about to solve this age-old problem in ways that seemed like science fiction just a few years ago.
For decades, the rule was simple: bigger TVs meant you needed better quality content to avoid that dreaded pixelated, blurry mess.
Standard definition video, widely used until the 1990s, was just 480 pixels high, while high definition bumped that up to 720 or 1080 pixels. When you stretch that onto a massive modern screen, the results aren't pretty.
But here's where it gets exciting. The latest AI upscaling technology doesn't just stretch your old content—it actually rebuilds it, pixel by pixel, using sophisticated algorithms that understand what they're looking at.
How the Magic Actually Works
Remember those old crime shows where someone would shout 'enhance!' at a computer screen and miraculously reveal a clear image from blurry CCTV footage? Well, that impossible dream has become reality—sort of.
Samsung's latest AI TVs feature eight times as many neural networks as previous models—512 instead of 64—analyzing and optimizing content in real time.
Think of it as having a incredibly smart assistant inside your TV that looks at every frame and thinks: 'I can see there's a tree in the background, but it's fuzzy. Based on my training, here's what that tree should actually look like.'
'It uses a combination of deep learning and machine learning. It still looks at the image you're watching and goes 'okay, those are the shades that I need to work on,' and then recreate those shades'
AI upscaling creates new pixels of image information to add detail where there wasn't any before, using machine learning to improve the result. It's not adding fake details—it's making educated guesses based on massive databases of how things should look.
What This Means for Your Favourite Programs
Here's the real game-changer: older content, particularly standard definition material, has seen remarkable improvement, with users expressing surprise at how familiar shows and movies seem new again.
This is particularly strong among those who own large 4K screens, bringing previously unwatchable titles back into regular rotation.
Your Sunday afternoon movie on Channel Seven? The evening news on ABC? That rerun of Neighbours from the 80s? They'll all look dramatically better on a large screen with AI upscaling.
When you send a 720x480 standard-def TV series to a 4K TV, the TV has to create nearly 8 million new pixels—nearly 24 times as many pixels as are in the original image.
Understanding viewing distances and screen sizes
For standard definition content: Sit 6.1m away from a 55' screen for optimal viewing
For 4K content: You can sit as close as 1m away from a 55' screen
With AI upscaling: Standard definition content can be watched much closer, making larger TVs practical for all your viewing
The technology is smart enough to recognise different types of content too. AI can recognise what type of content is being played and make adjustments on the fly to reduce problems like motion blur during fast action, or banding.
So whether you're watching the cricket, a David Attenborough documentary, or a classic Australian film, the AI adjusts accordingly.
What's Available in Australia Right Now
The brilliant part? This technology isn't locked away in premium TVs anymore. We started seeing TVs as large as 98 and 100 inches become widely available at surprisingly low prices, with competition intensifying and prices for panels dropping considerably.
In Australia, you've got solid options across different budgets. Samsung's S95F features impressive AI upscaling with unmatched colour accuracy, while gamers will love its 165Hz support at 4K resolution. For the flagship experience, Samsung's 8K QN990F is coming to Australia in the first half of 2025, though pricing hasn't been announced yet.
The mid-range options are where things get really interesting for value-conscious buyers. You're looking at models that bring professional-grade upscaling to everyday pricing, making the technology accessible rather than exclusive.
What to look for when TV shopping
- Ensure the TV specifically mentions AI upscaling (not just basic upscaling)
- Look for processors with higher neural network counts
- Consider screen size based on your room layout and primary viewing distance
- Check that the model supports the latest upscaling standards
- Don't forget about the built-in smart TV features for Australian streaming services
The Practical Benefits You'll Actually Notice
AI upscaling enhances accessibility, with people benefiting from clearer visuals and reduced image noise, helping them engage more comfortably with content. This is particularly valuable if you have any vision concerns or simply want to enjoy your viewing without straining your eyes.
The real test comes with content you know well. Take a beloved classic TV series from the '90s—while the storyline may still captivate audiences, the visual quality can often feel outdated when viewed on a modern 4K TV. Upscaling breathes new life into cherished shows, making them visually appealing on the latest screens.
Is It Actually Worth the Investment?
Artificial intelligence in TVs has been used to improve picture quality for several years, mainly for upscaling lower-resolution content, and those capabilities continue to improve. The technology has matured from experimental to practical, which means you're investing in something that actually works.
The value proposition is straightforward: instead of feeling frustrated that your favourite content looks poor on a modern TV, you can actually enjoy it better than ever before.
Content creators save time and resources by upscaling older videos to match current quality standards, while businesses benefit by repurposing existing video libraries for modern platforms.
The bottom line is this: if you've been putting off getting a larger TV because you're worried about how your regular viewing will look, AI upscaling has essentially solved that problem. Your ABC evening news, your weekend movies, and yes, even your guilty pleasure reality shows will all benefit from this technology.
It's worth noting that picture quality of upscaled content will vary depending on the quality and resolution of source content and may not apply to PC connection and Game Mode. But for regular TV viewing—which is what most of us are doing most of the time—the improvements are genuinely impressive.
What's Coming Next
As we continue into 2025 and beyond, AI video upscaling is getting even more advanced, with real-time AI upscaling enabling viewing of low-resolution content in HD or 4K. The technology will only get better, but it's already reached the point where it delivers real, noticeable benefits.
The dream of having cinema-sized entertainment at home is becoming more realistic, not because the screens are getting impossibly large, but because the content finally looks good enough to justify the size.
Have you experienced AI upscaling on your TV yet, or are you considering making the upgrade? We'd love to hear about your viewing experiences—both the frustrations with old content on new TVs and any pleasant surprises you've discovered with the latest technology.
Original Article
https://www.news.com.au/technology/...y/news-story/32fb5c8be777f8d770b3912260f4a5cc
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Cited text: Standard definition video, widely used in TVs until the 1990s, was just 480 pixels high. High-definition TVs bumped that up to 720 or 1080 pixels — an...
Excerpt: Standard definition video, widely used until the 1990s, was just 480 pixels high, while high-definition bumped that up to 720 or 1080 pixels
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Excerpt: Samsung's latest AI TVs feature eight times as many neural networks as previous models—512 instead of 64—analyzing and optimizing content in real time
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Excerpt: We started seeing TVs as large as 98 and 100 inches become widely available at surprisingly low prices, with competition intensifying and prices for panels dropping considerably
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https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/tvs/tv-trends-to-watch-for-a9692962731/
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Excerpt: AI upscaling enhances accessibility, with people benefiting from clearer visuals and reduced image noise, helping them engage more comfortably with content
https://www.claila.com/blog/ai-video-upscaling-vintage-content
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Excerpt: Take a beloved classic TV series from the '90s—while the storyline may still captivate audiences, the visual quality can often feel outdated when viewed on a modern 4K TV.
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Excerpt: Artificial intelligence in TVs has been used to improve picture quality for several years, mainly for upscaling lower-resolution content, and those capabilities continue to improve
https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/tvs/tv-trends-to-watch-for-a9692962731/
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Cited text: Those capabilities will improve in 2025.
Excerpt: Artificial intelligence in TVs has been used to improve picture quality for several years, mainly for upscaling lower-resolution content, and those capabilities continue to improve
https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/tvs/tv-trends-to-watch-for-a9692962731/
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Excerpt: Content creators save time and resources by upscaling older videos to match current quality standards, while businesses benefit by repurposing existing video libraries for modern platforms
https://www.claila.com/blog/ai-video-upscaling-vintage-content
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Excerpt: picture quality of upscaled content will vary depending on the quality and resolution of source content and may not apply to PC connection and Game Mode
https://www.samsung.com/au/tvs/why-samsung-tv/
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Excerpt: As we continue into 2025 and beyond, AI video upscaling is getting even more advanced, with real-time AI upscaling enabling viewing of low-resolution content in HD or 4K
https://www.claila.com/blog/ai-video-upscaling-vintage-content