Netflix Apparently Used AI To Create New ‘Photos’ For True-Crime Documentary

Video screenshot via Netflix

True-crime shows have raised an entire generation of amateur sleuths. Now, in the age of artificial intelligence, their skills have unwittingly been put to the test. Netflix is under the magnifying glass after viewers noticed some curious, seemingly altered photos of Jennifer Pan, the central figure of the new documentary, What Jennifer Did.

Pan’s story is a chilling one: a teenager convicted in 2015 for orchestrating the murder of her own parents in 2010. But it’s the documentary’s portrayal of Pan, not the crime itself, that has some viewers scratching their heads. There are some supposed inconsistencies in “photos” used throughout the feature, including images where Pan appears to have an extra-long tooth, weirdly proportioned hands, and even an inexplicable split in her cheek. These anomalies have many pointing fingers aimed squarely at AI manipulation.

Video screenshot via Netflix

AI image generation is a rapidly evolving technology, but it’s not foolproof. It’s believed that AI was used to create variations on existing photographs of Pan herself.

Netflix'in "What Jennifer Did" isimli yeni suç belgeselinde yapay zekayla oluÅŸturulmuÅŸ görseller kullandığı iddia edildi. pic.twitter.com/cakNF4PV9e

— Webtekno (@webtekno) April 14, 2024

One particularly glaring example is a photo of Pan flashing a peace sign with both hands. In this image, her left hand appears to be missing several fingers, while her right hand sports an unnaturally elongated thumb.

Video screenshot via Netflix

The use of AI-generated imagery in a true-crime documentary—built on the premise of presenting factual accounts—raises a critical question: where does one draw the line between storytelling and fabrication? This is especially concerning in Pan’s case, considering she's currently awaiting a new trial.

[via Engadget, Futurism, PetaPixel, Tech Times, video and screenshots via Netflix]