Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) to 4K became a popular hobbyist project, primarily using Topaz Video Enhance AI

While the AI does an admirable job smoothing out pixelated starfields, the difference between live-action footage and CGI spaceship shots becomes more noticeable. The live-action actors look crisp and detailed, while the CGI Defiant or Runabout might look slightly "painted" or smooth compared to the background. However, it is a massive improvement over the blocky artifacts of the DVD/Streaming versions.

This upscale wasn't just about pixel counting. It was a preservation act. When CBS finally released DS9 in "HD" on streaming in 2023, they simply ran the same AI upscale but at a lower bitrate. Many critics noted that the fan-driven 2020 "Project Defiant" release was actually superior to the official version, retaining more grain and offering higher bitrates.

Since 2020, other projects (such as the "AI Upscaled Project" by SpAwN and others) have iterated on the technology, sometimes offering different color grades or file compression methods. However, the 2020 "captainricky" release remains a landmark moment.