The Star Trek Holodeck just got closer – Apple’s new AI tool generates 3D scenes from your photos in under a second for VR memories

• Apple has released a new AI tool for generating 3D photos
• The tool can convert a 2D image to a 3D scene in under one second
• This could be an upgrade to the existing spatial photos tool in iOS

Remember when Apple introduced spatial Lock Screen photos in iOS 26? This feature added a stereoscopic effect to flat images on your Lock Screen, and it’s neat, if a little gimmicky. Now, though, Apple has revealed a new trick that takes the effect to an entirely new level – and it could be a brilliant addition to your Apple device if it gets a wider roll-out.

That new tool is called SHARP, and it’s just been unveiled in a research paper published by Apple. Titled “Sharp Monocular View Synthesis in Less Than a Second,” the paper outlines a new tool that can turn 2D images into 3D ...