A missing feature in using Video AI to convert old videos is aspect ratio conversion. Even back in 2005, Windows XP MCE had a non-linear stretch function to convert 4x3 to 16x9 with a minimal appearance of being stretched, since the brain automatically ignores the effect because it is similar to the way eyes work anyway. While it is relatively simple to do in After Effects (see image 1) it is a pain to need to do the whole video in AE after Topaz.
AE Non-Linear stretch.
The image below shows the two options provided by Topaz Video AI at the tom and bottom, with non-linear stretch in the middle. The effect is even better with a slight 10% crop at the top and bottom since film intended for broadcast has an overscan margin where TVs were intended to crop the picture by design.
An AI enhancement to this technique would be to detect subjects and shift the crop to frame the subjects reducing the amount of stretch needed. This may even switch from stretch to crop entirely if it detects a two-shot.
