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Foundations · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

AI Ethics for Documentaries

As AI tools become capable of cloning voices and generating photorealistic footage, the definition of “non-fiction” is under siege. This critical theory and practice course examines the ethical boundaries of using AI in documentary filmmaking. Students will debate high-profile case studies (e.g., Roadrunner’s voice cloning) and learn how to responsibly use AI for restoration, anonymity, and reenactment without deceiving the audience.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Distinguish between "Restoration" (cleaning audio) and "Fabrication" (generating words)
  2. Analyze the "Truth Contract" between the documentarian and the audience
  3. Master the use of AI for protecting subject identity (Digital masking vs. Blurring)
  4. Navigate the legalities of deepfaking historical figures or deceased subjects
  5. Develop a personal "Code of Ethics" for the use of synthetic media
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Crisis of Truth: Non-Fiction in the AI Age
  2. 02History of Manipulation: From Flaherty to Photoshop
  3. 03Audio Cloning: The Anthony Bourdain Controversy
  4. 04Deepfakes for Reenactment
  5. 05Labeling & Disclosure: The "Synthetic" Watermark
  6. 06Upscaling & Frame Interpolation artifacts
  7. 07Protecting Whistleblowers with AI
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09AI for Anonymity: Welcome to Chechnya Case Study
  10. 10Generative B-Roll: Ethics of creation
  11. 11Colorizing History: Restoration or Revisionism?
  12. 12Bias in AI Algorithms & Historical Data
  13. 13Legal: Copyright & Right of Publicity
  14. 14The Future of Evidence: Deepfake Detection
  15. 15Audience Perception of "Realness"
  16. 16Final Project: The Ethical Case Study Paper

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Ethical Case Study Paper

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse by Nina Schick
  2. Documentary: Witness and Self-Revelation by John Ellis
  3. The Ethics of Documentary Filmmaking by Prerana Reddy (articles/compilation)
  4. Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David J. Chalmers
  5. Honest Fake: The Ethics of Synthetic Media (Industry Whitepapers)
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