AI videos are getting very good. How do we detect their trickery?

[Gary C]

That comes as news to me. Reality TV always seemed so contrived that it had to be deliberately scripted:
...

I think. I don't know. I've never seen even one episode of any of the programs mentioned in any of those articles apart from /Top Gear/ and /Bullshit!/ who won some awards - but are they even "reality TV" anyway?

Well there are clearly segments of the population who find the genre unwatchable, those who think themselves 'in on the joke' and watch it only to criticize and ridicule the farce being presented and an unfortunate group who takes them at face value. Opinions vary as to the proportions of each group in the contemporary TV audience.

The real distinguishing features are in my mind:

• Non-union non-actors appear in all the major roles.
• Low production values
• No union screenwriters

Any character can be written off at any time leaving them with no bargaining power whatsoever. That keeps cost to a minimum. Most could be replaced by AI with little to no loss in 'quality'. I'm quite certain that the production companies behind these efforts are actively exploring the possibilities of AI and the last big strike in Hollywood tells me that people in the industry are just as concerned.

Random thought: How long before a dispute over compensation for a performance in a completed film is circumvented by having an AI editor simply delete the plaintiff from the work?