The use of AI-generated assets in mainstream media has sparked a new wave of controversies, with prominent brands, including entertainment giant Disney, finding themselves embroiled in heated debates over the ethics and implications of this technology. Fresh off the uproar over their latest Loki poster, Disney is now confronted with a second AI art debacle in the same week.
SAG-AFTRA strike and Disney’s alleged use of digital scans
Amidst ongoing concerns about the intrusion of digital replicas in the entertainment industry, the recent controversy surrounding Disney’s alleged use of digital scans of background actors in their films has sent shockwaves through the media landscape. According to recent reports by DiscussingFilm, Disney’s upcoming movie, Prom Pact, has come under fire for purportedly incorporating the digital likeness of several background actors without obtaining proper permissions or providing any form of compensation.
A viral clip circulating on various social media platforms has brought this issue to the forefront, showcasing extras with an unsettlingly lifeless appearance that has ignited widespread criticism. Users have pointed out that this practice not only raises ethical concerns but also undermines the efforts of the genuine artists involved in the production.
The use of these AI-generated background actors has been condemned, with users highlighting the contrast between the hollow, eerie expressions of the digital replicas and the liveliness that real actors could have brought to the scene. The growing sophistication of AI image generation technology has undeniably made significant strides, but the footage from Prom Pact serves as a stark reminder that synthetic faces still struggle to capture the authenticity and emotive depth of human performers.
Critics have further questioned whether a conglomerate as financially robust as Disney could not have employed alternative methods to avoid the uncanny valley effect that has marred the viewer experience. Given the increasing prevalence of high-quality deepfakes, many are left wondering why Disney failed to utilize more sophisticated techniques that would have better preserved the integrity of the artistic vision without compromising the genuine human touch that audiences yearn for.
The incident not only highlights the contentious nature of integrating AI-generated content into traditional filmmaking but also underscores the urgency of addressing the moral and creative implications of this rapidly advancing technology. As debates around the ethical treatment of digital replicas continue to intensify, the broader implications of such practices on the future of the entertainment industry remain a subject of growing concern and scrutiny.
