Have you heard about the case of Jennifer Panthe young woman at the center of the documentary “What Jennifer Did” on Netflix? This documentary may have used images generated by artificial intelligence to represent the protagonist, still awaiting a new trial. But what exactly does that mean?
The images in question feature details that usually suggest AI intervention, such as deformed hands and other strange artifacts. For example, one photo shows Jennifer Pan's left hand looking unnatural, and another highlights an unusual gap on her cheek.
The real question here is ethics of the use of AI images in a documentary context on Netflix
If images are not declared as created by AI, they could potentially influence public perception without a clear warning about their artificial origin. And in a delicate case like that of Pan, who awaits a new trial, the faithful and non-prejudicial representation of the facts is crucial.
Furthermore, there is no shortage of criticism. Some, like journalist Karen K. Ho, argue that documentaries of this type are part of what she calls the “true crime industrial complex”, a system that exploits an insatiable appetite for violent and sensational content. But the use of AI imagery in this context raises even broader questions: How will this affect public trust in documentaries and media in general?
Although in many parts of the world, including the United States And Europe, laws have been adopted to regulate the use of artificial intelligence, it appears that there are still no specific laws governing the use of AI images and videos in documentaries or other content. This leaves a regulatory void which could allow ethically dubious uses of this technology without sufficient transparency or accountability.
As the technology AI and its growing ability to generate realistic images, it becomes increasingly important to question how these technologies are used and what impacts they can have on our perception of reality.
So how should we address these issues? Transparency should be the priority, ensuring that the public is always informed when images have been generated by AI, especially in contexts that could influence public opinion or judicial processes. Only in this way can we hope to maintain a certain trust in the content we consume every day.
And what do you think? Do you think the use of AI imagery in documentaries should be more strictly regulated?
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