The Threat of AI-Generated Content to Documentary Truth
Documentary filmmakers and archival producers are raising serious concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence in creating visual content. They fear that the blurring lines between real and synthetic imagery could undermine the integrity of the genre and the role it plays in preserving our shared history.
If our faith in the veracity of visuals is shattered, powerful and important films could lose their claim on the truth, even if they don’t use AI-generated material.
One example of this concern is the rise of AI platforms like OpenAI’s Sora, which can generate convincing but ultimately fabricated video footage. In early 2024, OpenAI showcased Sora with a clip titled “Historical footage of California during the Gold Rush.” While the video appeared authentic, it was entirely synthesized, a blend of real and imagined elements based on Hollywood tropes and historical biases. This raises the risk of presenting false narratives as historical fact.
A still from “Sugarcane,” an Oscar-nominated documentary.
This issue is particularly relevant to documentaries that rely on archival footage, which can be easily manipulated by AI tools, potentially distorting historical events. According to the article, one of this year’s Oscar-nominated documentaries, “Sugarcane,” highlights this vulnerability. The film, which uses contemporary and historical imagery to expose the abuse of First Nations children in Canadian residential schools, demonstrates the power of careful research and accurate archival material to expose hidden truths.
Logos of AI applications.
The Archival Producers Alliance, co-directed by Rachel Antell, Stephanie Jenkins, and Jennifer Petrucelli, is at the forefront of this concern. They have published guidelines—endorsed by more than 50 industry organizations—for the responsible use of generative AI in documentary film. Their aim is to ensure that documentaries continue to accurately reflect history.
To address this, the authors call for robust AI media literacy for the public and the industry alike. They stress that accurate visual records documenting the past help us understand it and believe in it, and that we must work together to preserve the integrity of our real history before it is lost to a “haphazard remix.”
