Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, “What Jennifer Did,” has come under fire for allegedly using AI-generated art. The film recounts the high-profile case of Jennifer Pan, a 37-year-old woman from Canada, who was convicted of arranging the attack on her parents in 2010, resulting in the death of her mother and a critical injury to her father. At about the 28-minute mark of the documentary, several old photos of Pan are included, which according to a Futurism report, bear the “hallmarks” of being AI-generated including deformed hands and fingers, and indistinct objects blending into the photos’ backdrop.
Netflix and Raw TV, the production company behind the documentary, have yet to respond to media requests for comments regarding the allegations. The controversy around the documentary has been further amplified on social media platforms like TikTok, with creators generating viral content discussing the alleged use of AI art.
Jeremy Grimaldi, crime reporter and executive producer for the documentary, insisted that the photos were authentic and not AI-generated but did admit to the use of tools like Photoshop in the film. He told the Toronto Star, “The photos of Jennifer are real photos of her. The foreground is exactly her. The background has been anonymized to protect the source.”
The scenario echoes the controversy earlier in March involving allegedly AI-altered images of Kate Middleton. In that case, it was concluded that the images were not AI-generated, but were manipulated using traditional editing software.
Public reaction to these incidents indicates an increased awareness and vigilance regarding AI-generated content. The rise of AI-generated art, music, videos, and articles has led to concerns over quality, truth, and authenticity.
