Michał Wołoszyn
NVIDIA during the GTC 2026 conference presented DLSS 5, calling it the “GPT moment for computer graphics.” This is the biggest change in the “green” technology since the debut of ray tracing in 2018. Unlike previous versions that focused on resolution scaling and frame generation, DLSS 5 takes it a step further – it uses a neural network to generate photorealistic lighting and material textures directly on the screen. The technology is set to launch in autumn 2026.
End of "brute force" in favour of artificial intelligence
For the past 25 years, the development of graphics has hinged on increasing the computational power needed to calculate each ray of light. However, NVIDIA claims that traditional methods have hit a limit. The time budget for a frame in a game is a fraction of what Hollywood allocates for a single frame of special effects. The solution is meant to be DLSS 5, which instead of calculating every reflection, uses an AI model to "infuse" the scene with light and the physical properties of materials.
In practice, the system retrieves data on colour and motion vectors, then generates an image that takes into account complex phenomena such as sub-surface scattering on human skin, the natural sheen of fabrics, or the way light penetrates through strands of hair. Although during demonstrations the technology operated on systems equipped with two RTX 5090 units, the manufacturer assures that ultimately DLSS 5 will be optimised for single cards from the Blackwell family (RTX 50 series).
“AI Slop”?
Despite impressive presentations, the announcement of such deep AI interference in visuals has caused a huge stir online. Skeptics quickly dubbed the new technology “AI slop,” suggesting that generative pixels will be unstable, start to “float,” or create unnatural images that will blur the artistic vision of game creators. The internet is already flooded with memes showcasing AI hallucinations integrated into screenshots from popular titles.
It should be stable
However, Jacob Freeman, known in the community as a Technical Evangelist on the GeForce team, weighed in on the matter. Responding to concerns about the lack of image stability, Freeman quashed speculation with one clear statement: DLSS 5 "stays consistent every time." According to Nvidia, the key is combining the structural data from the game (which is predictable) with a probabilistic AI model to prevent flickering or changes in detail between frames.
When will we play and what with ChooseTV 5?
Although there are still a few months until the release, the list of developers declaring support for DLSS 5 is already long. Among the partners are Ubisoft, Bethesda, Capcom, and Warner Bros. Games. Todd Howard from Bethesda admitted that the implementation of this technology in Starfield has breathed new life into the game, especially in terms of planet lighting.
Titles that will receive support for DLSS 5:
Resident Evil Requiem
Starfield
Hogwarts Legacy
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Delta Force
Naraka: Bladepoint
Sea of Remnants
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Black State
Where Winds Meet
CINDER CITY
NTE: Neverness to Everness
Justice
DLSS 5 technology is reportedly set to debut in autumn 2026. Only then will we find out if the claims of "stability every time" will hold true in reality, or if the meme creators were right (by the way, quite funny ones 😉).
