AI an existential threat to documentary?

01 Jul, 2026
Filming documentaries

A new book, Documentary in the Age of AI: Creativity, Power, Technology, co-edited by AUT Associate Professor Dafydd Sills-Jones and Professor Pietari Kääpä of Warwick University says the use of AI technology raises existential questions for documentary producers.

Sills-Jones, appearing in an industry panel at the Doc Edge documentary film festival on Monday 29 June, says that while in the introduction of AI into documentary film making has revolutionised production techniques, it also raises critical questions about ethics, authenticity and the nature of truth in storytelling.

“Documentaries are about real life, offering insight and understanding through authentic, truthful story telling. AI certainly offers some tempting time saving tools, but as this book shows, any use of AI technology must consider the ethical implications.

“Documentary’s complex relationship with truth and veracity and its simultaneous ability to capture versions of reality are key themes addressed in the book. Like many creative industries, documentary film making has encountered early controversies due to the use of AI, including the replication of Anthony Bourdain’s voice for the film Roadrunner, or the completely AI-generated About a Hero.

“A shared understanding of the benefits of AI in reshaping workflows, identifying thematic strands or helping with editing and post-production while being mindful of the risks, particularly as the amount of fake content continues to expand, is crucial.”

By addressing documentary workflows from conception to post-production, and documentary’s ‘cultural life’ from exhibition to reception, the complex perspectives addressed in this book map out a comprehensive understanding of the integration of AI tools into documentary creativity and practice.

Questions such as enhanced transparency, copyright and IP, privacy and security and precarious work conditions are just some of the major imperatives that have emerged as key challenges in this brave new world.

Documentary in the Age of AI is available for purchase online.

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