Recently, with the dual strikes in Hollywood, the film industry's application of artificial intelligence has garnered widespread attention. Documentary filmmakers are facing numerous ethical issues in this transformation, particularly how to use generative AI, or how to draw the line with "fictitious materials" in their creations.
To address this, a group of documentary makers has jointly released a new set of ethical guidelines to help producers, filmmakers, and major platforms navigate the challenges posed by this technology.
Image source note: The image was generated by AI, provided by the image authorization service Midjourney.
This voluntary organization, known as the "Archival Filmmakers Alliance," consists of over 300 documentary producers and researchers who have been actively addressing the use of generative AI in non-fiction films over the past year.
Recently, they officially launched these guidelines at the Camden Film Festival, not to completely reject the technology, but to reiterate the journalistic values that the documentary community has long upheld.
"In an era where real photos and generated images are hard to distinguish, understanding the impact of generative AI on non-fiction storytelling is particularly important," said Stephanie Jenkins, co-director of the alliance. Prominent documentary makers including Michael Moore and Ken Burns have voiced their support for this initiative.
The guidelines emphasize four main principles: respect for original materials, transparency, legal considerations, and ethical considerations for human simulation. Producers are advised to think about the potential impact of synthetic materials on historical records, be vigilant against algorithmic biases, and always inform the audience when altering any content.
The guidelines also mention that documentary creation should maintain a rigorous attitude towards synthetic images, ensuring accuracy and sensitivity. Additionally, documentary makers should clearly indicate the generative AI tools and companies used in the credits to ensure that the audience can clearly distinguish between original materials and AI-generated content.
Of course, despite the risks, the alliance also sees the immense potential of AI in the documentary field. For example, using generative AI can help protect the identities of interviewees who may face risks during filming. This makes the new technology a valuable tool in documentary creation, enhancing the presentation of stories.
Through these standards, documentary makers hope to continue providing audiences with a trustworthy audio-visual narrative, documenting human history and experiences.
Key Points:
🌟 The application of generative AI has sparked ethical discussions among documentary makers, leading to the creation of new guidelines.
📜 The guidelines emphasize four principles: respect for original materials, transparency, legal considerations, and ethical considerations.
🤖 Generative AI helps protect the identities of interviewees and brings new possibilities to documentary creation.
