Microsoft is starting to roll out the long-awaited built-in video upscaling feature for its Edge browser.
The company’s new Video Super Resolution (VSR) algorithm uses artificial intelligence to boost web videos below 720p resolution, while also removing blocky artifacts.
So how do you use it? Reveal further details about the feature in a post on his Edge blog (opens in new tab)Microsoft confirmed that VSR will initially be limited to Windows machines with an Nvidia (RTX 20 series and above) or AMD (RX5700 and above) GPU.
To use the AI upscaling, you’ll also need to use the experimental Edge Canary version of Microsoft’s browser. If you’re using a laptop, you’ll need to be plugged in, while those with hybrid GPUs will need to change Windows settings to force Edge to only work with their discrete GPU (automatic support for hybrid GPUs coming in update).
VSR can upscale video to a width and height of at least 192 pixels, but unfortunately it doesn’t work with DRM-protected videos that use PlayReady or Widevine technology, such as Netflix streams.
Analysis: AI scaling gives AMD GPUs a welcome boost
While some may dismiss the VSR rollout as just a gimmick for watching older YouTube clips like Charlie bit my finger (opens in new tab) in UltraHD, this AI upscaling could be a game changer for some users.
While Microsoft admits that VSR is computationally intensive and may slow down less capable machines, the feature offers a potentially large visual bonus for those hampered by low-bandwidth internet or constrained by data caps.
It’s also a salvo in the GPU bragging wars, finally putting AMD video card owners on a par with Nvidia users, who have been able to brag about video upscaling in Chrome or Edge for some time now.