BBC Studios’ forthcoming nature series Blue Planet III is keeping murkier and less polished underwater shots that earlier editions would have cut, producers said, as a way to show viewers the footage is real photography rather than generative AI^1,2.

The Verge reported that earlier Blue Planet series were known for crystal-clear images that now risk looking too seamless, a look the outlet described as a common AI tell¹.

The Verge, citing comments executive producer Elizabeth White made to The Guardian, said past series would have dropped shots with plankton in the water or framed out boats, buoys, and poor water conditions, and that this series is leaving those elements in¹.

The Guardian reported that Jack Bootle, the BBC’s specialist factual commissioning head, told journalists at a press screening that no generative AI was used and that every frame is real photography².

The Verge described sequences of dolphins trapping fish by plugging holes with sea sponges, communication between fish species, and about 200,000 crabs lining up to feed¹.

The Guardian said the series used new camera kit developed over four years of filming, including an underwater CCTV camera, a mini-dome camera for an octopus, a deep-sea selfie stick, and lasers to film deep-sea animals².

The Guardian reported that David Attenborough narrates the series and was involved in script changes, citing producer Yoland Bosiger².

Blue Planet III is scheduled to start Sunday, Nov. 1, on BBC One and iPlayer, The Guardian said². Whether the authenticity strategy changes how viewers judge wildlife film in an AI era is not established in these reports^1,2.

Sources

1. The VergeBlue Planet III is keeping the rough edges in the age of AIOct 24, 5:29 PM
2. The GuardianBlue Planet III features cloudier footage to prove authenticity amid AI boomOct 24, 4:32 AM

Read the original at The Verge ↗