Netflix’s AI Disaster: Classic Sitcom ‘A Different World’ Ruined!

by


has once again found itself in hot water thanks to its increased use of AI to “enhance” the viewing experience of subscribers. This time around, the streamer has been slammed for using automated upscaling technology that many say has mangled the classic 1980s sitcom
. Originally a spinoff of The Cosby Show, A Different World ran from 1987 to 1993, focusing on the lives of students attending the fictional Hillman College. The recent release of episodes on Netflix should have been a popular nostalgic boost to fans of the series, but instead became “unwatchable” thanks to some upscaling nightmare moments.

Netflix’s reliance on AI-driven upscaling tools, which are more and more frequently used to turn older low-resolution shows and movies into crisp, super-enhanced, specimens of perfection. Or that is what it is meant to do. On paper, the method sounds efficient with advanced, programmed algorithms looking for anomalies and missing details to fix them in minutes. It seems, though, the reality is that what it instead leads to is distorted faces, awkwardly smoothed hair, and backgrounds that have morphed into uncanny jumbles of color and incomprehensible lettering. According to many social media posts, characters appear to wear fixed, doll-like expressions, while the scenery moves and shifts unnaturally, turning the whole thing into a “crazy creepshow.”

It is hard to argue against the belief that Netflix seem to be so eager to deliver big and flashy “upgrades” to ensure their content all looks great on the biggest 8K TV imaginable that they forget that some people don’t mind a bit of grain or a smaller picture size if it retains the integrity of the original product. It seems that A Different World has proven to be the latest in a long line of faux pas made by the streaming giant when it comes to the integrated use of already divisive AI technology across their library.

Why Are People So Outraged at Netflix’s Use of AI?

The subject of how AI is being integrated more and more into the world of movies and TV is a big bone of contention that doesn’t seem to be getting swallowed any easier over time. Netflix has been at the heart of many complaints about AI being used in a variety of ways to alter and change some of the content they have available to subscribers.

This has included AI software being used to manipulate the mouths of actors in foreign language movies to better match the English dubbed versions, touching up of older properties – such as A Different World – and more issues that people probably haven’t noticed yet. But they will, and when they do, they will highlight it to the world through social media to be pawed over and tossed around comments sections.

This latest controversy highlights several potential issues, many of which have been pointed out in the comments seen on the TikTok video that details the way the show has been ruined by “enhancements.” This includes the fact that actors’ appearances are being manipulated and processed through AI machines, most likely without them or their estates being aware of it. Additionally, there are the ramifications surrounding the fact that this kind of upscaling used to be done by teams of people, who would painstakingly restore and renew old footage for a modern audience and modern viewing. Now, this is just being pumped through a machine, and whatever comes out is being presented as content for better or worse.

Read More

2025-03-16 19:11