Using artificial intelligence (AI), animation programs can process still images and add a few seconds of movement to create a lifelike effect. Upload a photo (if you have a print, you will need to digitize it first), and the AI will either animate it automatically or you can determine what type of movement you want added. Some applications will even allow users to sync audio with lip movement so it appears as though the person in the photograph is speaking. Some platforms—with free and paid options—include Deep Nostalgia from MyHeritage, HitPaw and Runway.

This can be a fun exercise, but there are limitations. “It’s kind of interesting, but not in any way controllable,” says Rick Dakan, an AI coordinator for the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Remember that this is all guesswork. The movement may not resemble how that person actually moved.

At times, AI may misfire altogether and produce unnatural results. Some AI applications cannot render hands or teeth accurately. And the movement might look strange. “When people are walking, if you watch the legs, you’ll realize they’re not walking in a natural way,” Dakan says. “They’re just kind of moving and sometimes swapping sides.”

For best results, the photograph needs a clear view of the face. If photos are low resolution, have damage or were taken in poor lighting, the AI platform may struggle to scan the photograph accurately. But Dakan says that all AI tools, including free services, will improve over time. “It’s getting better and more accessible,” he says. —Lexi Pandell