Tuesday, August 26, 2025
All the Bits Fit to Print
Real concert footage altered with AI-enhanced video effects
A recent video from a Will Smith concert sparked accusations of fake, AI-generated crowds, but investigation shows the crowds are real, though the footage was manipulated with AI techniques.
Why it matters: The controversy highlights challenges in distinguishing authentic footage from AI-altered videos in entertainment media.
The big picture: Will Smith’s team used AI to animate real crowd photos, while YouTube’s post-processing further degraded video quality.
The stakes: Misunderstandings about AI use risk damaging artist reputations and fuel broader mistrust of digital content authenticity.
Commenters say: Many criticize YouTube’s experimental video enhancements for worsening AI artifacts and debate ethical concerns of animating photos into videos.