Synthetic Memories: Using AI to Recreate Lost Visual Memories

Pau García introduces “Synthetic Memories,” a project that uses generative AI to recreate lost or forgotten visual memories. Inspired by his work with elderly patients and those affected by Alzheimer’s, García explores how these AI-generated images can enhance reminiscence therapy, improving cognitive function and emotional connection. Through real-life examples, he shares how recreating memories from oral descriptions can evoke powerful emotional responses, reconnect families, and offer comfort to those struggling with memory loss. The project, which has promising medical and therapeutic potential, also seeks to preserve cultural heritage, especially for individuals who have lost visual records due to displacement or disaster.