What is the AI Time Machine? The Latest TikTok Trend Explained

Writer, Trends

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TikTok is currently obsessed with a new artificial intelligence tool that allows users to transform themselves into historical figures. But be warned: results do vary.

Genealogy website MyHeritage launched the free tool on its website earlier this month. Called the AI Time Machine, the feature allows users to see what they might've looked like in different time periods. Users then have the choice to share their results with friends and family.

Of course, many users have also chosen to share their results with their social media followers. A quick TikTok search reveals that the hashtag #aitimemachine has amassed over 28 million views on the app, and the #myheritagetimemachine hashtag has garnered roughly 10 million views.

But how does the feature work? And what exactly do the results show? Here's what you need to know:

Woman laughing on phone — TikTok is currently obsessed with a new artificial intelligence tool that allows users to transform themselves into historical figures. But be warned: results do vary. Georgii Boronin/istock

What to Know About The AI Time Machine

As previously stated, the AI Time Machine is a free feature on MyHeritage's website, found here. To use it, click the "try it now for free" button and then upload 10-25 photos of yourself taken at different angles. MyHeritage recommends uploading at least three full-body shots, five shots taken "from the chest up," and 10 close-ups.

"[AI Time Machine] takes real photos of a subject that you upload, and transforms them into stunning, hyper-realistic images depicting that person featured in a variety of themes from across the globe," MyHeritage said on its website. "Using AI Time Machine, you can see yourself as an Egyptian pharaoh, a medieval knight, a 19th-century lord or lady, an astronaut, and much more."

According to MyHeritage, everybody who uses the time machine "gets completely different results."

"You'll [also] get different results by uploading a different set of photos of yourself," the company said.

A spokesperson for MyHeritage told Newsweek that the company has released "many successful features that use the power of AI to bring historical photos to life." So, "it was a natural progression for MyHeritage to add the groundbreaking AI Time Machine, inviting people to travel to the past and see themselves as they might have looked at the time of their ancestors."

AI Time Machine on TikTok

Using the time machine has been an emotional journey for some. For example, Tefi Pessoa revealed that the 1930s version of her resembled her late grandmother.

"So emotional to see the similarities between you and your beautiful grandmother," MyHeritage said in response to the video. "All the feels!"

You can watch the full video here.

Some users said the time machine helped them appreciate their femininity.

"Appreciating my femininity by using the MyHeritage AI Time Machine to see myself throughout history," Natalie (@fromhaustohome) said before showing images of her as French royalty and a Russian Tsarina, among other roles.

You can view that clip here.

But others weren't happy with their results.

"Watch me get VIOLENTLY humbled by the MyHeritage AI Time Machine," read the text overlay in Jess's video.

In another video, a woman named Kelly wrote: "IDK y'all this trend kinda hurt my feelings."

According to the MyHeritage spokesperson, the AI Time Machine has generated over 44 million AI images. In response to the popularity, they said:

"Many people are commenting about the family similarities they see between themselves and their AI images. We're not surprised by the feature's popularity and virality as people are inherently fascinated by their own personal family history."